The Madison Diversity Leadership Program will run in the spring semester of 2024. This exclusive opportunity, offered by James Madison College, selects a cohort of approximately 10 students each year.
The 2024 cohort includes the following students: Stephanie Adams (SRP ‘24), Aadit Agrahara (PTCD ‘25), Sydney Bayoneto (IR & CCP ‘24), Taylor Boulware (IR ‘24), Hannah Nassar (CCP ‘24), Ava Parsons (CCP ‘26), David Rabinkov (IR ‘26), Claire Smith (SRP ‘25), Mary Stein (SRP ‘26) and Marianna Coelho Uchoa (IR ‘24).
The program aims to address a lack of diversity in the public and non-profit sectors by fostering the growth of its students through leadership development. The MDLP curriculum focuses on underrepresentation (and ways to address such underrepresentation) in electoral politics and government, different models of leadership, and modes of community and stakeholder engagement with particular focus on participatory democracy.
Associate Dean Linda Racioppi and Assistant Professor Sejuti Das Gupta lead the eight-credit program that includes an education abroad component in India where students will engage with the Society for Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA).
“Leaders are not born, but they are nurtured,” Das Gupta said. “This program is a way to nurture the skills of being a leader by bringing diverse perspectives to the table.”
The program begins with a one-credit intensive leadership course, spanning a four-day period in January; a three-credit course focused on participatory democracy that runs for the duration of spring semester; and a four-credit internship or independent research project related to the program. Participants will spend two weeks traveling throughout India, beginning in New Delhi during spring break.
“I’ve never had the opportunity to go abroad before, so this program seemed like a great chance to step outside my comfort zone and experience new things,” said Stephanie Adams. “The chance to have different cultural experiences and interactions while also taking classes that will help me later was something I couldn’t pass on.”
As part of the culminating experience, student participants will present their research during the James Madison Research Showcase on April 19.