Cross-college expansion adds organizational leadership expertise to OU's growing Leadership Development Institute

Following the successful completion of its Founders Prototype Phase — featuring leadership workshops, cross-disciplinary collaboration and a high-stakes business case competition — Oakland University’s Leadership Development Institute (LDI) is expanding to include the School of Education and Human Services (SEHS).

Originally established through a collaboration between the School of Business Administration (SBA) and the School of Engineering and Computer Science (SECS), LDI will welcome its first full cohort this fall with participation from SEHS. The expansion brings the expertise of SEHS’s Department of Organizational Leadership to an already distinctive, industry-integrated leadership experience for OU students.

LDI is built around the CARVE framework — Collaborative, Adaptable, Reflective, Visionary and Ethical — a proprietary leadership model developed by Leader Foundry and adapted for collegiate leadership development. Through a full-year blended cohort model, undergraduate students work with sponsoring companies, applying what they learn through workshops, team-based experiences and real-world business challenges.. The program culminates in live case study presentations evaluated by an industry panel.

“SEHS’s Department of Organizational Leadership brings academic expertise in human resource development and organizational leadership to the institute’s faculty base,” said Timothy Herrick, LDI director. “Not only does this strengthen the LDI CARVE model by providing another layer to each area of the framework, but it also enriches the blended-cohort experience through participation by SEHS students.”

Adding SEHS represents an important next step in LDI’s development because effective leadership extends beyond any one discipline. Engineers, business professionals, educators and human-services leaders increasingly work together to solve complex organizational challenges, lead change and build high-performing teams.

SEHS faculty and students will contribute valuable perspectives on talent development, organizational culture, communication, ethical decision-making and the human side of leadership. These are areas essential for leaders in every sector.

“Participation in the Leadership Development Institute gives SEHS students a valuable opportunity to apply their knowledge of organizational leadership in a collaborative, real-world setting,” said Jon Margerum-Leys, Ph.D., dean of the School of Education and Human Services. “By learning alongside students from business and engineering, and engaging directly with corporate sponsors, our students will strengthen their ability to lead across disciplines and develop important skills,  including adaptability, strategic thinking, communication, teamwork and the ability to turn ideas into action.”

LDI is a full-year, cross-college leadership development program that brings together undergraduate students from the Schools of Engineering and Computer Science, Business Administration, and Education and Human Services with employees from sponsoring companies. The program is designed to be structured, measurable and self-sustaining through corporate cohort sponsorships and a founding annual contribution from Leader Foundry, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Applications for the 2026–27 LDI cohort are open through October 31, 2026. Students interested in building their leadership capacity, expanding their professional network and gaining experience with real organizational challenges are encouraged to visit the LDI website for application details, eligibility information and updates.