Leadership Development and Training Programs

The Crain Emerging Leaders program is a leadership development opportunity for first-year, first semester students. In weekly meetings, you will explore on-campus leadership at SMU. Through hearing from guest speakers, hands-on activities, and discussions, you will learn about how your campus leadership experiences can prepare you to be a world changer.

Emerging Leaders runs throughout the fall semester. The Crain Leadership Endowment Fund generously supports this program. Applications for fall 2024 are closed.

In this year-long academic program, you will refine your leadership skills while planning and implementing an impact project. An impact project is something you are passionate about within the campus or Dallas community that you need seed funding to get started. As a Caswell Fellow, you will receive project funding up to $2,500, as well as complete paid weekly office hours, get mentored and assigned an advisor, and participate in leadership development workshops. View examples of fellows past projects.

The Dr. Jim Caswell Endowment for Leadership Development and Training generously supports this program. 

In the Caswell Leadership Coach Program, experienced junior and senior student leaders engage in peer-to-peer leadership development to help all students become more effective within their SMU organizations. Coaches mentor their peers through individual meetings and leadership workshops as well as help their peers apply the 7 frames of the SMU Leadership Framework to their positions.

The Caswell Leadership Coaches work closely with the SMU Student Senate Organization Committee regarding the Organization Chartering process. To get in contact with a Caswell Coach today please fill out the form below.

The Dr. Jim Caswell Endowment for Leadership Development and Training generously supports this program.

Cultivate is a leadership development program for third- and fourth-year students. In this semester-long program that occurs during the spring semester, students will meet weekly to discuss the SMU Leadership Framework and how to apply it in your daily life in and outside of SMU. In these weekly discussions, students will gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their role as leaders in individual, organizational, and community contexts. They will bring their current experiences as campus leaders into the discussion as well as consider future leadership opportunities beyond graduation.

The Crain Leadership Endowment Fund generously supports this program.

Crain Leadership Launch is an event for student leaders who hold a distinguished leadership position at SMU. During the event student leaders get various networking opportunities amongst each other and distinguished administrators across campus. The Caswell Leadership Coaches host various sessions about relevant topics where students get to brainstorm with one another and learn how they can best support the SMU student body and within their organizations. 

The Crain Leadership Endowment Fund generously supports this program.