News and Insights - Presidential Leadership Scholars

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Presidential Leadership Scholars explore lessons on vision and communication in Little Rock

April 14, 2025

Presidential Leadership Scholars Module Three recap

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A 2023 Presidential Leadership Scholar is fighting back against human trafficking in Texas

March 26, 2025

New Life, shares how the PLS Program shaped and inspired her work to combat human trafficking in Texas.

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Turning obstacles into opportunities through the Presidential Leadership Scholars Program

March 19, 2025

Presidential Leadership Scholars Module Two recap Decision-making through the lens of President George W. Bush’s Administration took center stage during Module Two of the Presidential Leadership Scholars Program last month in Dallas. Scholars of the 10th PLS class heard from President Bush directly as well as officials who worked for him who shared how they […]

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How a Presidential Leadership Scholar is working to increase accessibility and representation for disabled people across the world

February 25, 2025

Keely Cat-Wells is a 2024 Presidential Leadership Scholar and the Co-Founder and CEO of Making Space and Making Space Media, an organization that provides the necessary resources and opportunities for disabled people to create meaningful careers and become influential leaders. She shares her dedication to advancing the rights of disabled people and how the Presidential Leadership Scholars Program impacted her ability to lead and collaborate in meaningful ways.

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Making community out of strangers: The impact of the Presidential Leadership Scholars Program

February 13, 2025

Presidential Leadership Scholars Module One recap

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Presidential Leadership Scholar spotlight: Bayeté Ross Smith

February 10, 2025 | Bayete Ross Smith (‘19)

Bayeté Ross Smith, 2019 Presidential Leadership Scholar, artist, and adjunct instructor at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, discusses his passion for creating impactful art and the lessons he learned in the Presidential Leadership Scholars Program. Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your personal leadership project. I am a multidisciplinary […]

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Presidential Leadership Scholar spotlight: Wade Lairsen

February 1, 2025

Wade Lairsen, 2022 Presidential Leadership Scholar and CEO of The Birthday Party Project, discusses his passion for creating joy that changes people’s lives and the lessons he learned in the Presidential Leadership Scholars program. Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your personal leadership project. I’m Wade Lairsen – currently CEO of an […]

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News

2025 class of Presidential Leadership Scholars announced as program celebrates 10th anniversary

January 15, 2025

Tenth annual class comprised of 57 accomplished leaders including educators, physicians, public servants, and corporate professionals; program begins on Jan. 29 in Philadelphia Jan. 15, 2025 – Today, the Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS) program announced the 57 Scholars who will form the program’s 10th annual class. For the past decade, PLS has brought together more […]

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Demonstrating leadership when it’s a matter of life and limb

December 9, 2024

By Margot Habiby As her uncle lay painfully dying in a hospice care facility in the heart of Philadelphia, Nubia Peña gathered with other rising American leaders a few blocks away to work on solving our nation’s most pressing issues while building community and bridging divides. What happened next couldn’t have been more apt, particularly […]

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Insights

Leading from within: How authenticity and values shape leadership

December 6, 2024

By Casey Rodriguez The holiday season is a time for all of us to come together and celebrate with family and friends. We share in traditions, gather around, tell stories, and reflect on what the year has brought us. During this time, we are also reminded of what makes us unique individuals and how those […]

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