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 application is necessary for this pathway, but graduate 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. Registration is required for each session. All sessions take place in Leadership Studies Building Room 247 or on Zoom. Participants should plan to be actively engaged in every session. A list of topics, descriptions and registration links are provided below.

• Leading Change Through Interdisciplinary Thinking
  • 9:30-11 a.m. Wednesday, February 18
  • Develop skills in interdisciplinary collaboration, systems thinking, and creative problem-solving for complex leadership challenges. Register here.
• Strengths-Based Leadership & Organizational Adaptability
  • 2:30-4 p.m. Monday, February 23
  • Identify, cultivate, and apply strengths to foster adaptability and resilience in the face of uncertainty. Register here.
• Leadership Coaching: Philosophy & Practice
  • 10-11:30 a.m. Monday, March 2
  • Learn the fundamentals of leadership coaching to cultivate continual learning and empower others to take action. Register here.
• Leading Organizational Culture through Compassion, Well-Being, & Belonging
  • 1:30-3 p.m. Wednesday, March 25
  • Explore how boundary-spanning leadership can transform environments into cultures where individuals and teams thrive. Register here.
• Leveraging Collective Leadership for Large Systems Change
  • 1:30-3 p.m. Wednesday, April 1
  • Learn how to lead large-scale change by building coalitions, working across factions, and sustaining collaboration for long-term impact. Register here.
• Co-Creation as Leadership in Community-Engaged
  • 10-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 7
  • Explore how leadership emerges through authentic community collaboration by practicing co-creative, community-engaged approaches to research and project design. Register here.

Interested graduate 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 closed.

• Program learning objectives

  This program is based on design principles of shared exploration (learning with others), self-reflection (meaning-making), and application (learning through practice). Through the various program elements, you will identify a relevant leadership challenge and apply concepts of adaptive leadership to find solutions. You will also: 

  • Examine your leadership mindset  
  • Identify and leverage your leadership strengths 
  • Build your capacity to relate to and work with others  
  • Explore drivers of system change  
  • Identify opportunities to be a change agent within and beyond the university
• Microcredential
  As part of participation in Grad Edge, K-State graduate students have the opportunity to earn a microcredential to showcase the leadership mindsets and skills that strengthen their ability to relate to and work with others.

  Learn more about microcredentials
• Who may participate?

  K-State graduate students from all disciplines are welcome to apply for the program. We encourage applications from graduate students with any level of leadership experience. Up to 40 K-State graduate students will be selected for participation in the cohort program (see details in the program description). 

  Option to attend elective workshops and optional programs only 
  Remember: If you do not have capacity to fulfill requirements of the full program and simply want to participate in some of the elective workshops, you do not need to complete the application. Applicants who are not selected for the Spring 2026 Grad Edge cohort are still encouraged to participate in Leading Change workshops. 

• Participant expectations
  If accepted into the Grad Edge cohort, you must attend and participate in the following activities. All workshop times are U.S. Central time. Open to all graduate students to attend. 
  
  Two Required Cohort Workshops
  

  Program Kick-Off and Introduction 
  Friday, February 6, 2026 
  3:30 - 5:30 pm  
  Leadership Studies Building 114 (Town Hall) 

   

  Program Reflection and Celebration 
  Friday, April 24, 2026 
  3:30 - 5:30 pm  
  Leadership Studies Building 114 (Town Hall) 

  If you are unable to attend the Kick-Off and/or Celebration sessions in-person, please indicate this in your application. We can offer an option to join via Zoom for participants if needed.  
  
  At Least Three Elective Leading Change Workshops
  Each workshop is 90 minutes and will be offered in a hybrid format that allows for in-person and virtual participation. Cohort participants should plan to attend workshops during the scheduled time, unless an exception has been made by the program facilitators. While you are required to attend at least three workshops, you are encouraged to attend them all as your schedule permits. 
  
  Peer Reading Groups: When Everyone Leads
  Every Grad Edge participant will receive a free copy of the book, When Everyone Leads: How the Toughest Challenges Get Seen and Solved.You will engage in facilitated reading group designed to help you make progress on personal or professional challenges. The reading group will meet three times (90 minutes each) in February, March, and April (times will be determined by group members).
  
  
  
  Online Community
  Grad Edge participants will be part of a Canvas page that serves as a resource and connection point. You will have access to additional readings, videos, and resources. You will be asked to share reflections and participate in virtual discussions to support meaning-making and application of learning.
  
  Engagement with the Graduate School
  Grad Edge participants are required to complete at least two hours of engagement with the Graduate School during the Spring 2026 semester. The Graduate School and Graduate Student Council offer a variety of events and activities to support graduate student success.
  
  Optional Developmental Campus Experiences
  Participants are encouraged (but not required) to extend and apply their learning through campus and community activities, such as:

  • What Matters to Me and Why Speaker Series
  • Teaching and Learning Center events
  • Graduate Student Council professional development seminars
  • College and departmental events
• Application

  Up to 40 K-State graduate students will be selected for participation in the cohort program. Applicants will be notified about selection by December 19, 2025.  

  In the application form, you will be asked to respond to the following prompts: 

  • From your perspective, why are leadership skills needed or valued for professionals in your field? 
  • Share a personal and/or professional goal and describe how you expect the Grad Edge leadership development program will help you achieve your goal(s). 
  • How do you anticipate this program will impact your ability to exercise leadership in your program, department, lab, organization, or broader communities in which you are engaged? 

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.