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Students can apply for CAS LEAD in the summer before their first year or during their first fall semester. It is highly recommend that students interested in the program apply during the summer before their first year, since students who apply in the summer but are not offered a spot can then reapply in the fall. Students who enter in the summer also have the benefit of starting their CAS LEAD experience earlier on, which can help with the transition to college.

No! We are looking for students interested in becoming ethical leaders and that doesn’t assume prior experience with leadership. What matters more than experience is passion and drive with regard to what you stand for and your moral convictions.

“CAS LEAD provides fantastic opportunities to develop your leadership skills, regardless of your current experience with leadership. Everyone should apply to CAS LEAD, because it is important to develop ethical leaders for the future.� Madisen Placzkowski, CAS LEAD Economics Major

Yes! You are encouraged to reapply for spring admission to CAS LEAD if you don’t get offered a spot for the fall!

Yes! CAS LEAD students have a variety of majors, minors, and are engaged in many campus programs, activities, and study abroad. To be a part of CAS LEAD you need to be able to attend the seminar classes, however, they are scheduled at convenient times that don’t tend to conflict with other classes. The program is designed such that you can go abroad in either your junior or senior year. If you have questions about fitting CAS LEAD in with your other commitments, talk with you academic advisor and the CAS LEAD Director to make sure it’s feasible with your plan of study.

The study of ethical leadership will support you in any career path you may choose. CAS LEAD students will have time devoted to perfecting their public speaking skills, interpersonal skills, and capacities for nuanced, complex thought. Everything we learn is directly applicable to your future career. Employers often look for leadership training and experiences, and so having completed the CAS LEAD program will make your application stand out and give you a lot of meaningful experiences to talk about during interviews and on applications.

Yes! The CAS LEAD curriculum provides students with opportunities to engage in community based learning in the DC area.

Yes! The CAS LEAD director will serve not only as your professor but also as a mentor throughout your four years. The director will also connect interested students with mentors in their field. In addition, all first year students will be paired with a CAS LEAD student mentor who is in their second or third year. This will help first-year CAS LEAD students adjust to the program, AU, and gain peer support.

“Throughout the CAS Leadership and Ethical Development Program, I have had the opportunity to expand my interests and personal relationships to lengths that would not have been possible without the support provided by this program. From my very first day in CAS LEAD, my bond with Program Director, Dr. Nabina Liebow, has been one I will cherish for endless years to come. I have been introduced to the many events the AU College of Arts and Science holds and have used this to enhance my networking and personal communications skills, which will undoubtedly aid my success in the future. I am confident that my time in CAS LEAD will place me on a fast track for success and I am excited about the opportunities ahead of me.� Olivia Johnston, CAS LEAD Environmental Science Major

CAS LEAD seminars are designed to be hands on, interactive, fulfilling learning experiences. Your assignments outside of class will be manageable (short readings, documentaries, writing reflections) and the curriculum is designed so that you stay engaged and personally fulfilled by the material. Here’s what CAS LEAD students have to say about CAS LEAD seminars:

“My favorite part about CAS LEAD is the material that we read for class and the activities we do with them because of the way that they push you to address issues of structural inequalities in such versatile and provoking ways. One of my favorite classes thus far has been my Philosophy class with Nabina (CAS LEAD Director) first semester (called Do the Right Thing!)--one of the most fun, eye-opening, and motivating classes ever. Second to that is probably the volunteering events that we have the opportunity to participate in that involve us in the greater DC area and community, while giving us a chance to further build the CAS LEAD community itself. CAS LEAD seminars are rarely the stress of my day, but more of a space that I know will be productive, effective, and fun!� Clarissa Cheung, CAS LEAD Sociology major

“If you are thinking of applying to CAS LEAD but unsure about how the CAS LEAD seminars and commitments will fit in with your major, professional schedule, or extracurricular activities, don't worry. CAS LEAD is a leadership program designed to have teach engaging and meaningful lessons, build a community within the College of Arts and Sciences, and provide exciting opportunities for its members. In CAS LEAD seminars you will never be tasked with busy work or assignments/mandatory experiences that aren't related to the core of what you are learning and lack real world applicability. CAS LEAD events are scheduled at a variety of times, and cohort activities such as study hours and game nights are run by students for students, so they are a great place to go and decompress from your day. The CAS LEAD program is incredibly understanding and actively works with its students to decrease stress, not add additional tasks to your plate. Overall, CAS LEAD can fit into your schedule and there are so many people who are available as resources to help you make it fit and succeed in the program.� Sophie Hathaway, CAS LEAD Public Health Major

If you have other questions, we warmly encourage you to e-mail CAS LEAD Director, Nabina Liebow (liebow@american.edu). She can answer your questions and/or connect you with students in CAS LEAD who can provide their perspective on the program.