UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s Presidential Leadership Academy (PLA) has begun its yearly application process. A certificate program, the PLA annually selects 30 first-year students who aim to think, act and lead through experience.
Any current first-year University Park student with a GPA of 3.2 or above may apply to PLA. Applications close at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, March 10. Penn State faculty and staff may nominate qualified first-year students online by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 26. More information is available on the PLA website.
“We are beyond excited to invite Penn State students to apply for this year’s PLA cohort," said interim program director Lisa Ford. "The strength of PLA lies in the experiences of its members who come from unique backgrounds. Their perspectives allow us to have enlightening conversations that help to develop strong leaders.”
In addition to PLA coursework, students attend leadership seminars, engage in community programs, and participate in fully funded field trips planned each semester that aim to shed light on social, political and environmental issues.
Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi teaches a weekly seminar course for new students, with additional honors courses focused on leadership development that are led by Patrick Mather, dean of the Schreyer Honors College, and Ford. The final year in PLA concludes with the creation of an e-portfolio project.
Incoming PLA students can expect coursework and experiences that emphasize civility, philanthropy, respect for diversity, and student engagement. Multiple dimensions of issues are explored, wide-ranging viewpoints are encouraged and heard, and fully informed and respectful discourse ensues, often leading to sound action.
PLA was established in 2009 with a gift from Edward R. and Helen S. Hintz to develop critical-thinking and educate selected students in personal, global and cultural spheres. Each year, a diverse class joins the academy to consider the complexity and variability of world matters and current events. PLA values the idea that critical thinking on issues is not black or white, but instead, somewhere in the gray.
Three information sessions, two virtual and one in-person, are scheduled for interested students. The first virtual session is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30, and the second virtual session is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21. Registration is required for both virtual sessions and can be completed using the links above.
The in-person session will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, in C-9, Atherton Hall.
All questions and inquiries about nominations and applications may be directed to Ford via email at lef7@psu.edu.