News and Insights - Presidential Leadership Scholars

A decade of the Presidential Leadership Scholars, a lifetime of impact

December 16, 2025

On Oct. 10, 2025, hundreds of Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS) program alumni gathered in Washington, D.C., to mark ten years of this extraordinary network. It wasn’t simply an anniversary –it was a living testament to what happens when leaders from every corner of the country commit themselves to service, community, and shared humanity. Throughout the […]

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Insights

PLS at 10: Interview with President George H.W. Bush’s Chief of Staff Jean Becker

December 15, 2025

Jean Becker, chief of staff to President George H.W. Bush during his post-presidency, recently sat down with the Presidential Leadership Scholars team to discuss her time serving President Bush, his impact on the program, and what she hopes Scholars learn from their time at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas. […]

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PLS at 10: Dr. Mike Hemphill on the evolution of the PLS program

December 11, 2025

Dr. Mike Hemphill is Co-Director of the Presidential Leadership Scholars program and Senior Director of Leadership Development at the Clinton Foundation. He recently reflected on the creation and evolution of the PLS program, the value and impact of the alumni network, and his hope for the next 10 years of PLS. Tell us a bit […]

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PLS at 10: A Scholar’s reflection on the Presidential Leadership Scholars experience

November 13, 2025

By Niki Marin, Class of 2025 What stays with me as a Presidential Leadership Scholar is the understanding that learning never stops. Leadership requires the discipline to keep listening, questioning, and growing, even when it feels easier to stand still. While the classroom lessons shaped by the legacies of four presidents were powerful, some of the most […]

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PLS at 10: LBJ’s White House Counsel on the president’s ability to influence and persuade, the success of PLS

October 27, 2025

Larry Temple, Chairman of the LBJ Foundation and former White House Counsel to President Lyndon B. Johnson, recently discussed the impact of the Presidential Leadership Scholars program, the influence of LBJ and Lady Bird Johnson, and his hope for the future of PLS. What led you to serving President Lyndon B. Johnson in the White […]

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PLS at 10: Bush Institute’s Kristin King reflects on the program’s lasting impact

September 3, 2025

Kristin King, Vice President of the George W. Bush Presidential Center, Chief Operating Officer of the George W. Bush Institute, and former Director of the Presidential Leadership Scholars program, recently answered questions about the launch of PLS over a decade ago, her favorite PLS memories, and her hopes for the future of the program. You’ve […]

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PLS alumni build a brighter future for all

July 10, 2025

By Nicole Hawkins In June, the 10th annual class of Presidential Leadership Scholars graduated from the program, bringing the number of alumni to nearly 600. For over a decade, PLS has brought together accomplished professionals from across the nation to learn leadership lessons through the experiences of Presidents George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George […]

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Presidential Leadership Scholars walking the walk in New Orleans

July 10, 2025 | An-Me Chung (‘15) and | Kevin Causey (‘16)

By An-Me Chung (2015), Kevin Causey (2016) Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS) alumni from across seven different cohorts gathered in April in New Orleans to celebrate 10 years of the program. Set in the inspiring Hall of Democracy at the National WWII Museum, the reunion did what PLSers do best – build community, deepen fellowship, and […]

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PLS at 10: Secretary Andy Card on the program’s ‘great gift to our democracy’

July 10, 2025

Secretary Andy Card, who served as Secretary of Transportation under President George H.W. Bush and Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush, sat down with the Presidential Leadership Scholars team in College Station, Texas, to talk about the lessons he learned from the 41st and 43rd presidents, his hope for the future of PLS, […]

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Service, selflessness, and humility: Lessons from the 41st president

June 6, 2025

By Nicole Hawkins “Any definition of a successful life includes service to others.” -President George H.W. Bush Becoming a Presidential Leadership Scholar isn’t easy – thousands have applied throughout the past decade, and around 60 professionals are selected for each year’s class after a thorough application and interview process. While professional achievements and a proven […]

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