The Jepson School of Leadership Studies was the nation’s first undergraduate school of leadership studies. More importantly, we are the nation’s best undergraduate school of leadership studies. So much so that many other colleges and universities have modeled their schools and programs after ours, with our mission to educate effective, ethical leaders. Simply put, we are the leader in leadership studies.
Excellence rarely happens in a vacuum. At the Jepson School, it happens through the synergistic efforts of our students, faculty, alumni, and friends.
Driven by intellectual curiosity, our students explore leadership inside and outside the classroom. This year, they honed their critical-thinking and public-speaking skills in international and national competitions, presented their research at a professional conference, and practiced leadership during their credit-bearing internships and in roles they held across campus.
Their success is due in part to the mentorship they receive from our interdisciplinary faculty. Faculty like Dr. Terry Price, who created a course where students learned to debate controversial topics respectfully, with the goal of understanding opposing views. Faculty like Dr. Thad Williamson, who brought insights from his work as the Richmond mayor’s senior policy strategist into the classroom. Faculty like Dr. Crystal Hoyt, who guided students in the pursuit of original research.
Our alumni, too, play an important role. They led sessions on job searches, interviewing, and office etiquette during our annual career-readiness program for juniors. During the University of Richmond’s annual 36-hour UR Here fundraising campaign, they showed up in a big way, ensuring we placed first among the University’s five schools in dollars raised for the second consecutive year.
Generous donations from alumni families enabled us to launch a faculty fellowship and a student scholarship this year. And of course, the magnanimity of Richmond alumnus Robert S. Jepson Jr., and his wife, Alice Andrews Jepson, propels the Jepson Scholars Program, which offered full scholarships to Oxford master’s programs to five 2026 graduates.
As I look ahead to the school’s 35th anniversary in fall 2027, I am grateful for all we have accomplished. Even more, I am excited about the future we will forge together for the school and for the leadership studies discipline. Thank you for joining us in this ongoing endeavor of excellence!
Sandra J. Peart
Dean and E. Claiborne Robins Distinguished Professor of Leadership Studies
President, Jepson Scholars Foundation