Jepson School of Leadership Studies

The Leader in Leadership

As the nation’s first-ever undergraduate school of leadership studies, the Jepson School takes "leading the way" very seriously.

That’s why we educate tomorrow’s leaders with a world-class program, preparing them for positions that drive real change in their communities and the world.

Through a rigorous curriculum, opportunities for outside experience, and support that extends far beyond their time at Jepson, our students find here a leadership journey unlike any other.

Recently named the "Jewel in the Crown" of the University of Richmond’s academics by College Gazette, the Jepson School of Leadership Studies investigates leadership not only as a position, but also as a process and a relationship among people.

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The Jepson Leadership Forum

The 2024-25 Jepson Leadership Forum presents E Pluribus Unum? The Divisions Testing American Democracy. We invite scholars and experts to discuss how division and polarization affect American democracy. Together, we will explore how and why divisions have manifested historically and currently in the United States, focusing on their impact on justice, education, politics, culture, technology, and class. Are division and the struggle to find common ground making us stronger or tearing us apart? Join us as we search for answers to this and other questions.

Professor Julian Hayter smiling toward the camera as he is being interviewed by and sitting across from Anderson Cooper. There are television cameras and lights around them.

A Faculty of Experts

Jepson faculty help students hone their leadership skills. They also hold prominent places in national and international media, providing insightful opinions and expert views on leadership and issues of the day.

Want to learn more about the Jepson School of Leadership Studies?

Kate Rezabek, '02, and Joseph Greener, '13, speaking at the 2023 Jepson EDGE Institute

Alumni Who Lead

Graduates leave Richmond with knowledge of leadership frameworks and with the critical thinking and communication skills that enable them to excel in their chosen careers.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Jepson

Scholars & Practitioners

Dr. David E. Wilkins
Wilkins Invited Speaker

David Wilkins, professor of leadership studies, presented "The Indian Citizenship Act at 100: A Century of Mixed Messages" as the invited speaker at a talk sponsored by the North Carolina American Indian Heritage Commission.

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Dr. David E. Wilkins
Wilkins Invited Speaker

David Wilkins, professor of leadership studies, presented "Apart and Akin: Indigenous Peoples and African-Americans—Similarities and Differences in Historical/Legal Experiences" as an invited speaker of the University Forum Lecture Series at Appalachian State University.

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Dr. Kristin M. S. Bezio
Bezio Awarded

Kristin Bezio, professor of leadership studies and Jepson School dean of academic affairs, received a Community-Engaged Teaching Award from the University of Richmond Bonner Center for Civic Engagement.

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Tom J. Shields
Shields Awarded

Tom Shields, associate professor of education in the School of Professional and Continuing Studies and associate professor of leadership studies in the Jepson School, received a Community-Engaged Scholarship Award from the University of Richmond Bonner Center for Civic Engagement. 

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