Mission: Albert C. Yates Leadership Development Program (LDI) aims to continually develop a high achieving, modern generation of Black/African American leaders. Upon selection into the program, students are immersed in a dynamic, engaging experience that defines and explores what it means to be a leader in today’s society. This program empowers Black/African American students to make meaning of their own leadership style, while critically engaging with sociopolitical models of leadership. In developing their unique leadership consciousness, students will sew into Black/African American leadership of the past and present, while they build their confidence to engage as change agents at Colorado State University and after graduation.

Purpose: As a part of their participation within this institute, students with 30 – 60 credits completed will foster learning communities, where students can critically engage with concepts of leadership. Students will be able to apply what they learn and unlearn about themselves and leadership in order to confidently disrupt and resist frameworks of leadership that do not include the intersections of Black voices, Black bodies, and Black experiences.

Learning Outcomes:

• Students will understand the value of intentional, intersectional, and equitable leadership as it affects individuals, groups, and systems.
• Students will be able to identify and make meaning of the 40 traits of leadership (Albert C. Yates).
• Students will be able to identify and make meaning of the Principles of Community at CSU.
• Students will develop their skills in engaging in inter and intra group dialogue centered on leadership, diversity, inclusion, equity, and social justice.
• Students will understand how contemporary leadership is a product of the historical past in both the short and long term future.
• Students will be able to design, create, and present their own work in the form of a leadership manifesto to demonstrate their learning and meaning-making from the Institute.
• Students will be able to understand and learn about leadership opportunities offered at CSU through the Office of Inclusive Excellence to engage in after the conclusion of the institute (LEAD, MURALS, Campus Step Up, PLP, Orientation, RA, ICA, SEED, Ram events, Black student organizations, PMSAC, Admission ambassadors etc.)