A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF HOW STUDENTS CONSTRUCT THEIR LEADERSHIP LEARNING FROM A HIGH-IMPACT LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

The Maroon & White Leadership Program at Texas A&M University is a formal leadership program that involves students completing eight leadership experiences including leadership education, training, and development dimensions. Students also reflect on each leadership experience and meet with a leadership coach to synthesize the experience. In our content analysis of 134 reflections from 17 students, we found that students articulate learning in the developing self area of the leadership identity development model including deepening self- awareness, building self-confidence, establishing interpersonal efficacy, and expanding motivations. Applying new skills was not as evident from the reflections. Students also demonstrated a broadening view of leadership in moving to thinking of leadership as a process and not just a position.