Our fellowship programs engage teacher leaders, department chairs, school and system leaders, Penn faculty, and Penn undergraduate students in a shared commitment to character and leadership development—empowering participants to lead with purpose and create positive change in their institutions and communities.

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Educator Programs

Educator Fellowship in Student Leadership

Five women standing in a circle having a conversation

Open to educators and educational leaders worldwide, the Educator Fellowship in Student Leadership is a year-long, virtual professional learning experience bringing together teacher leaders, department chairs, and school and system leaders committed to cultivating student leadership in their classrooms, schools, and systems. Through a series of monthly interactive webinars, Educator Fellows engage with key dimensions of student leadership development, including cultivating supportive learning environments, integrating leadership into curriculum, and designing opportunities for student practice and reflection.

At the core of the Fellowship is a sustained community of practice that brings together educators from diverse educational contexts. Fellows learn alongside one another, sharing experiences, exchanging strategies, and collectively problem-solving challenges related to implementation.

Each session combines research-informed insights with opportunities for collaboration, enabling participants to connect ideas to their own contexts and develop actionable plans. Between sessions, participants are encouraged to apply new approaches in their contexts, using their real-world experiences as a foundation for ongoing learning. Across the year, fellows engage in cycles of learning, planning, implementation, reflection, and refinement, ensuring that leadership development is deliberate and intentional. By the end of the fellowship, participants will have developed a clear and context-specific vision for student leadership, along with a set of concrete strategies to support students in developing the skills, dispositions, and habits of effective leaders.

Now Accepting Applications for the 2026–2027 Cohort

Individual and team memberships are available, and you can learn more about the individual and team membership options, session dates, program application details, and apply by August 1 to join us this September.

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Penn Faculty Fellowship in Student Leadership

A cohort-based learning experience designed for Penn undergraduate faculty and instructors seeking to embed character and leadership education into their academic courses. Through a faculty-centered professional learning program, the Faculty Fellowship fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration, enriches teaching practice, and cultivates a shared vision for developing future leaders.

Faculty participants engage in a collaborative learning community, where they explore frameworks for character development, design course-aligned learning experiences, and contribute to a growing network of educators committed to holistic student development.

Over time, this initiative aims to support institutional coherence around leadership education and inspire similar efforts across the field of higher education.

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Student Programs

Penn Student Fellowship in Leadership Development

A group photo of 10 students in the Penn Leadership Institute

The Penn Student Fellows program is a cohort-based, cross-disciplinary learning experience designed for Penn undergraduate students interested in exploring value-based leadership development. 

Student Fellows engage in a collaborative learning community, where they explore frameworks for leadership development, reflect on personal leadership values, and generate student-driven insights to inform the work of the Penn Leadership Education Institute, including the Faculty Fellows program. The fellowship aims to amplify student voices in shaping the future of leadership education at Penn and beyond.

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Custom Programs & Partnerships

Partner with us to create a bold vision for student leadership and design professional learning tailored to your school, district, system, or organization.