Building the Leaders of Tomorrow

Students in Steward’s Leadership Program recently met with students in University of Richmond’s Jepson School of Leadership Studies program to discuss the role of ethics in leadership. Eliza McGehee, Upper School social studies teacher and director of the Leadership Program, said UR’s expertise in this popular area of study made the Jepson School a perfect fit for a morning filled with idea exchanges and mentorship. 

“They really are pioneers in this type of programming and scholarship,” said Ms. McGehee of University of Richmond. Kerstin Soderlund, associate dean for student & external affairs at the Jepson School, facilitated the gathering with the Jepson Student Government Association and introduced a “thought experiment” exercise – a hypothetical scenario that tasked students with making a difficult ethical decision. In small groups, they discussed what decision they’d make and why. Leading the brainstorming sessions, UR students stressed that an ethical perspective, which can often be quite nuanced, is crucial to effective decision-making and leadership.  

Justin Fratkin ’25 said, “This activity forced us to think about what the best choice would be for everyone [in a difficult situation].” He noted that Steward’s Leadership Program, which emphasizes the importance of conflict resolution, global engagement, and social justice, “has forced me to look at leadership in different ways. I am grateful to be part of this program and for all it has taught me and will continue to teach me.”

Since joining Steward’s program, Shreya Natarajan ’25 has reexamined her definition of leadership.

“Previously, I thought of it as one person who represented or was in charge of a group of people,” she said. “Now, I understand that there are also ‘silent leaders’ like Rachel Carson and Eleanor Roosevelt. Furthermore, leadership does not have one face; there are leaders who are not in traditional roles but who inspire others every day. As we delve into more conversations about leadership, I find myself trying to focus more on developing the attributes of a good leader, including supporting others and building trust.”

For Brian Archer ’25, the biggest takeaway from the trip to UR was that good leadership can be applied to all situations and careers. Steward’s program has led him to become more conscientious of his actions on campus and off. 

“I think the program will benefit me in the future whether it be on a college transcript or in a real-life situation,” he said. “This program has shown me ways to think outside the box.” 

Collaborating with Jepson students gave Spartans an opportunity “to connect with and learn from their peers,” said Ms. McGehee. “The UR students are only a few years older, but they have a wealth of knowledge and experience.” The partnership with UR “fits into the Steward approach because we are taking a deep dive into complex questions and considering them from multiple perspectives.” Spartan student-leaders, she noted, “are setting themselves up with skills that they can apply later on when a more complicated situation might pop up.” 

Take a look at the Steward Snaps from our Leadership Program students' trip to UR.