How We Got Started
The idea of the Illinois Leadership Initiative began with the former Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (1994-2005) Patricia Askew's passion for student leadership development. Prior to having a comprehensive leadership program available on the Illinois campus, a few students in positional leadership roles would attend national sessions of the LeaderShape® Institute. After communications between many of these students and Dr. Askew, a collaboration between the Division of Student Affairs and each college in Academic Affairs was created in hosting a session of an Illinois LeaderShape® Institute specifically for University of Illinois students.
Following the success of University of Illinois LeaderShape®, student participants encouraged Vice Chancellor Askew to open the leadership program to more student leaders by adding a second session. However, additional sessions were proved to not be scalable, and Dr. Askew realized the campus needed a new approach to leadership development for Illinois students.
In 1998, Dr. Askew appointed a committee of staff to create a "Blueprint" for the creation of a comprehensive leadership program between academic and student affairs. From this group grew a team of faculty, staff, and students that created the University of Illinois Philosophy of Leadership and the list of Leadership Skills supported by the Philosophy.
In 1999, the first Illinois Leadership Coordinating Committee, appointed by the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Askew and Provost Herman, created the structure for a Leadership Center and the first "I-programs" — comprehensive leadership retreats open to all Illinois students. The first I-program, Insight, was held in February 2000.
In May 2001, the plan for a comprehensive Leadership Center was endorsed, along with the plan for a campus-wide Leadership Certificate. In the Fall 2002 semester, the Leadership Center opened its doors in the Illini Union. By Fall 2006, the newest I-program, Integrity, had been added. The Center's newest initiative, a campus-wide Minor in Leadership Studies, will be offered in Fall 2011 in partnership with the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES).
