What We Do

The Oaks Leadership Scholars lead from their values. Our Scholars learn to recognize their role in being the positive change they want to see in the world. Using transformative leadership theory as our guiding framework, scholars apply what they learn in the program through their action oriented project. 

Students have the opportunity to rejoin The Oaks for a second (or third) year, if they complete their initial Scholar year in good standing. 

Click each link below to learn more about what we do!

Readings

Scholars read contemporary leadership leadership. While there is some assigned reading, Scholars have the opportunity to leverage the Oaks library and select further reading that speaks to their individual interests.

The Senior Scholars are given a specifically curated reading list designed to extend the knowledge and skills they built in their first year.

All readings are discussed during mentor meetings as well as weekly cohort meetings.

Cohort Workshops

Scholars meet twice monthly in sessions devoted to developing transformative leadership skills. In these sessions, our scholars learn from NC State leaders, change agents across the state, program alumni, and program faculty. So come for the learning, stay for the snacks and community!

Senior Scholars have the opportunity to continue their learning in our cohort sessions by serving as learners of more advanced material but sometimes also as co-instructors as they assist faculty with introductory sessions for new Scholars. 

Travel

Students travel to Washington to broaden their understanding of how they can lead on a state, national, and global level.

Mentoring

Scholars further develop personal and professional networks by meeting with program faculty mentors each month. These meetings help scholars working on achieving their program goals, dissect what they’re learning, and provide community support.

Senior Scholars have the chance to further develop close relationships with their faculty mentors through coffee shop meetings, dinners, and Zoom brainstorming sessions as they work to achieve their program goals, dissect and debrief what they’re learning and how they are applying it in and outside of the program. Senior Scholars also become mentors for First Year Scholars, often offering valuable project advice, helping Scholars prepare for sessions.

The Advance

In the Oaks, we don’t retreat…we advance! The Oaks Advance is a two-day event that includes both first-year scholars and senior scholars. We are a tight-knit community, and events like these are how we stay connected and advance our leadership skill sets.

Senior Scholars assist with First Year Scholar learning sessions and then have a chance to take a deeper dive when they break off to their own sessions to refine their skills in networking, developing community, and project planning. Senior Scholars also lead both formal and informal activities throughout the Advance.