What is the Mission of the Leadership Institute?

     

The mission of the Leadership Institute is in harmony with the larger Catholic mission of the University. Pope John Paul II notes in Ex Corde Ecclesiae that one ideal of a Catholic education is when “students are challenged to pursue an education that combines excellence in humanistic and cultural development with specialized professional training. ... They should realize the responsibility of their professional life, the enthusiasm of being the trained ‘leaders’ of tomorrow, of being witnesses to Christ in whatever place they may exercise their profession.”  Ex Corde Ecclesaie provides an academic vision for the ILS,  both for its overall mission as well as the specific work to teach and develop leaders for society.

Statement of Purpose
The Leadership Institute at Mount St. Mary’s University prepares students to understand and seek to resolve the problems facing humanity. The Institute sponsors educational programs, scholarly research, and experiential programs designed to connect theoretical learning about leadership to engagement with the world.  Consistent with the mission of the University, the Institute seeks to develop leadership knowledge and skills in all students to empower them to lead creative and generous lives with intelligence and compassion.

Role
Mount St. Mary’s University is founded on the four pillars of faith, discovery, leadership and community. The Leadership Institute has been assigned the important task of enlivening the University’s leadership pillar. Working in conjunction with departments across the University, the Leadership Institute will seek to afford all students the chance to apply their formal classroom knowledge about leadership to a “real-world” setting: internships, community service, study abroad, and other programs.The study of leadership is a means by which each student can learn to reason how he or she can change their physical and social environment for the better.