Trinity University

What is leadership?

Leadership Philosophy
Leadership is a complex combination of experiences, lessons, challenges, and self exploration that occur throughout a lifetime. Leaders are not defined by the title they hold or the role they play, but rather the process by which they engage with others when working toward a common purpose.

What does this look like on campus? You will see Trinity student leaders positively impacting their communities, acting with an ethic of care and shared responsibility to others, seeking creative possibilities amidst challenges, and taking time for introspection and personal development.

The Social Change Model of Leadership Development serves as the foundation for all leadership programming. The model was developed by the Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) at the University of California, Los Angeles in an effort to enhance student learning and facilitate social change. The model emphasizes the need to understand self and others in order to create community change. The model is inclusive in that it is designed to include all participants - those who hold formal leadership positions, as well as those who do not. Through this model, leadership is a "purposeful, collaborative, values-based process that results in positive social change."

Higher Education Research Institute (HERI). (1996). A social change model of leadership development (Version III). Los Angeles: University of California, Los Angeles.
Komives, S. & Wagner, W. (2009). Leadership for a better world. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.