About the Program

The Presidential Leadership Scholars program annually gathers a diverse group of mid-career professionals to hone their leadership abilities through interactions with former presidents, key administration officials, leading academics, and business and civic leaders.

A Presidential Experience Program Features Curriculum, Schedule, Cost

of Scholars feel more confident in their leadership of positive change: 94%
of Scholars have grown as a leader through relationships developed in the program: 93%
of Scholars made progress toward their personal leadership project: 100%

A Presidential Experience

Four Presidential Centers. One Nation.

Scholars travel to presidential centers to learn lessons in leadership from four presidential administrations.

The Presidential Leadership Scholars program brings together bold and principled leaders who are committed to facing critical challenges, both at home and around the world, and who are interested in exploring lessons learned during the administrations of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson.

George W. Bush Presidential Center on the SMU campus in Dallas, Texas

Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Arkansas

George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum on the campus of Texas A&M in College Station, Texas

LBJ Presidential Library on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin, Texas

Program Features

Inspiring Scholars to Lead Positive, Lasting Change

Scholars put their learning into action through a personal leadership project, intended to address a problem or pressing issue in their community, organization, country, or the world. They gain a perspective that encourages working across differences and develop relationships that span traditional geographic, professional, political, and economic boundaries. PLS challenges pre-existing perceptions and inspires Scholars to lead with purpose.

Presidential Leadership

Learning about presidential leadership experiences from each administration that provide insights into various approaches to leadership.

Distinguished Speakers

Hearing from distinguished speakers, including former presidential administration officials, business leaders, social entrepreneurs, and other luminaries to discuss different aspects of leadership.

Scholar Network

Cultivating a growing network of principled and solutions-oriented Scholars who are making a demonstrated impact in their communities and organizations.

Personal Leadership Project

Working on a project that focuses on a new or existing initiative in which the Scholar is involved as part of or outside their day-to-day work.

Leadership Methods

Exploring evidence-based methods of leadership at each program module.

Curriculum, Schedule, Cost

6 Months. 20 Days of On-Location Instruction. No Cost to Participants.

Featuring sessions led by distinguished thought leaders and practitioners representing a variety of perspectives on leadership, the Presidential Leadership Scholars program is offered at no cost to participants.

Lessons Focused on Collaborative Leadership

Vision and communication

Decision making

Influence and persuasion

Strategic partnerships

Program Includes

20 days of on-location instruction and interaction, spread over six months

Pre- and post-module assignments and evaluation

Relationship building across divergent views and backgrounds

2026 Schedule and Cost

January through June (View full schedule)

Four-day opening session, followed by one extended weekend per month at each of the four presidential centers. Program concludes with a four-day session and capstone module.

Tuition, housing, meals, and travel are fully funded by contributions from our program supporters.