Graduate Student Leadership Development

The Graduate School, in partnership with the Staley School of Leadership, offers leadership development opportunities to K-State graduate students across disciplines. Master’s and doctoral students are encouraged to take advantage of these unique opportunities to push their leadership to the next level.

These experiences support graduate students in developing non-technical skills that contribute to their academic success and career preparedness. They are also an excellent opportunity for graduate students to connect and build community with peers in other disciplines.

Choose your path

Through this partnership, there are two pathways for graduate student leadership development

Grad Edge cohort program

Graduate students who are looking for a structured leadership development opportunity are invited to apply for the Grad Edge cohort program. In addition to the Leading Change series, participants will engage in cohort workshops, peer reading groups, and other activities with the Grad Edge community.

Leading Change Workshops

Any K-State graduate student is welcome to participate in this workshop series. Graduate students can select from a variety of topics related to leadership in groups, teams, and communities. No applicaiton is necessary for this pathway, but gradaute students will register for each workshop they plan to attend.

Leading Change workshop series

Each session in the Leading Change workshop series is 90 minutes and will take place between February and April 2026. These workshops are offered in hybrid format to allow for in-person and virtual participation. Participants should plan to be actively engaged in every session. A list of topics is provided below. Workshop descriptions, details, and registration links will be available soon.

  • Leading Change Through Interdisciplinary Thinking
  • Strengths-Based Leadership & Organizational Adaptability
  • Leadership Coaching: Philosophy & Practice
  • Leading Organizational Culture through Compassion, Well-Being, & Belonging
  • Leveraging Collective Leadership for Large Systems Change
  • Co-Creation as Leadership in Community-Engaged

Interested gradaute students will register for each workshop in OrgCentral.

Grad Edge: Leadership Development Cohort Program

The Grad Edge leadership development program provides K-State graduate students an opportunity to develop leadership mindsets and skills to make positive change in their work, studies, student organizations, and professional roles. Through this semester-long experience, participants will work with leadership faculty and cohort peers to dive into challenges that are most important to you.

Spring 2026 cohort program

The Spring 2026 program will be conducted in a hybrid format with in-person and virtual opportunities for participants.

The application for the spring 2026 cohort is coming soon!

Points of contact

  • Direct questions about the Grad Edge cohort program application process to Dr. Megan Miller, assistant director of student success, at  mmmiller@ksu.edu or 785-532-6191.
  • Direct questions about the Grad Edge cohort program structure and curriculum or questions about the Leading Change workshops to Dr. Mac Benavides, assistant professor, Staley School of Leadership, at mb2008@ksu.edu.