Website: www.washburn.edu/aleshirecenter

Director: Lauren Edelman, Ed.D.
Associate Director: Madeline Lambing, Ed.D.
Associate Director: Kristine Hart, M.A., M.C.J.
Community Engagement Faculty Fellow: Jason Miller, Ph.D., MPH
Leadership Studies Lecturer: Michaela Saunders, M.L.S.

Plass Learning Resources Center, Room 217
(785) 670-2000
aleshirecenter@washburn.edu

Vision

To be a premiere center for transformative leadership development and community-engaged learning, committed to developing socially engaged, inclusive, and accountable leaders.

Mission

The Aleshire Center for Leadership and Community Engagement is committed to developing leaders through high-impact community-engaged learning and research. We empower students to become global citizens that support the creation of thriving, just communities. We bridge academic and co-curricular experiences to foster cross-cultural understanding and create innovative approaches to learning in partnership with community stakeholders.

Academic Partnerships

• School of Nursing Leadership Partnership
  • Nursing students can supplement NU 450 Leadership, Management, Health Policy (2 credit hours) and NU 462 Quality and Safety in Healthcare (3 credit hours) as substitutes for LE 300 Leadership Skills Development (3 credit hours) and LE 400 Leadership Internship (3 credit hours); however, students opting to complete their Leadership Minor or Certificate in this way must enroll in LE 301 Leadership Skills Integration (1 credit hour) concurrently with NU 450 Leadership, Management, Health Policy to substitute for LE 300 Leadership Skills Development, and LE 401 Leadership Internship Integration (1 credit hour) concurrently with NU 462 Quality and Safety in Healthcare to substitute for LE 400 Leadership Internship. The content in LE 301 Leadership Skills Integration and LE 401 Leadership Internship Integration will integrate coursework in the departmental leadership course with the content covered in LE 300 Leadership Skills Development and LE 400 Leadership Internship.
  • Transferability of applicable course credit will be prescribed for each institution in WU’s transfer guide, though ultimately is left at the discretion of each academic department. Transfer students will only be able to transfer a maximum of 6 credit hours toward completion of a Leadership Studies Minor.
• Community-Engaged Learning
  • Community-engaged learning (CEL), also known as community-based learning, service-learning, or community service education, refers to an educational approach that integrates classroom instruction with meaningful community experiences. It is a pedagogical strategy that aims to enhance students’ understanding of course content, develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and foster a sense of civic responsibility and social awareness.
  • The Aleshire Center for Leadership and Community engagement seeks to strengthen CEL at Washburn University by supporting resources, funding, and connection with campus and community partners engaged in this work. For additional information or to schedule a consultation, contact Dr. Jason Miller, Community Engagement Faculty Fellow, at jason.miller2@washburn.edu.

Co-Curricular Programs and Partnerships

• Leadership Washburn Transformational Experience
  • Students earning a WTE in Leadership will complete a 1-3 credit leadership course and complete a 50 hour change project.  For more information, see the Leadership WTE section of this catalog.
• Community & Civic Engagement Washburn Transformational Experience (CCE-WTE)
  • Students participating in the CCE-WTE engage in significant meaningful work with and for the community. Completion of the CCE-WTE is recognized at commencement and appears on students’ academic transcript. For more information, please see the CCE-WTE section of this catalog.
• Leadership Challenge Event
  • The Leadership Challenge Event™ (LCE™) is an annual 2-day event hosted by the Aleshire Center for Leadership and Community Engagement. It is a unique inter-scholastic as well as inter-collegiate leadership competition which provides high school and undergraduate college students an opportunity to participate in an organized competition that simulates real-life experiences. The LCE™ challenges students to address a variety of problems and situations where the outcome of the simulation is dependent on the leadership decisions made throughout the course of the competition.
• Bonner Scholar Program
  • This national civic engagement leadership and university honor program requires a significant community engagement commitment, mentored training and enrichment activities, and participation in group initiatives and projects with other members of the program. Participants work to effect social change and build the capacity of community-based organizations; become knowledgeable about issues that affect the local, national and international communities in which we live; and develop broad-based leadership skills through their service experience to support their development as actively engaged citizens. This is based on the premise that college students have a unique and important ability to contribute to society in meaningful, lasting ways. The program is also meant to create a supportive community of students on campus whose common focus on community and civic engagement gives them a sense of purpose and meaning while connecting their service back to their academic and professional goals. Washburn is one of only 73 colleges and universities that form a network committed to the Bonner Foundation model of Community Engaged Learning. Opportunities are provided for all members of the program to interact with other members in the network and to engage with their national partners. Completion of the program includes the University honor of Bonner Scholar, which is recognized at commencement and appears on the student's academic transcript.
• Community-Based Work Study: Students who qualify for Federal Work Study have the option of earning this money by working with a nonprofit organization, public school, or government entity in the community that matches their academic and/or professional goals.

Academic Programs

• Leadership Studies, Minor
• Leadership Studies, Certificate
• Community Studies, Minor
• Graduate Certificate in Communication and Leadership
• Communication and Leadership, M.A.

Course Offerings