Graduate school can be a time of discovery, challenge, and growth. Between research deadlines, coursework, and balancing life beyond the classroom, it’s easy to focus on technical expertise and forget that leadership (how we communicate, collaborate, create impact and more) is just as vital to success.
That’s why the Graduate School and the Staley School of Leadership are partnering once again to offer the Grad Edge: Leadership Development Program this spring. This semester-long experience is designed to help graduate students strengthen their leadership mindset, build professional confidence, and apply what they learn to real challenges in their research, work, and communities. Applications are open now and due Dec. 5, on the Grad Edge website.
“Giving graduate students the opportunity to work alongside peers from many different fields creates a unique learning environment, where they can focus on their leadership development while building their community on campus,” said Mac Benavides, Ph.D., assistant professor at the Staley School of Leadership. “Our cohorts become close, and that really deepens their learning when they are working on skills like collaboration, mobilizing others, and thinking in innovative ways.”
The Grad Edge program welcomes master’s and doctoral students from any discipline, from engineering to English, from agriculture to architecture. Students learn together in an interdisciplinary cohort, gaining exposure to ideas and perspectives far beyond their own fields. One participant from the 2023 cohort said, “Meeting grad students from other disciplines reshaped how I approach problems.”
Through guided practice, coaching, and collaboration, participants learn to lead change, communicate with influence, and approach challenges with a mindset geared toward growth. Whether a student hopes to advance in academia, industry, or public service, the program offers tools that transfer across any career path. Participants often comment on how much they enjoy the peer coaching. One member from the 2017 cohort said, “Peer coaching pushed me to see challenges through someone else’s lens.”
Up to 40 students will be selected for the Spring 2026 cohort. The Staley School teaches leadership as an activity, not a position, and all levels of leadership experience are welcome. Participants also have the option to earn a leadership microcredential, which can help showcase their skills to future employers or academic programs.
The application deadline is Friday, Dec. 5, and details are available on the Grad Edge website.
For students looking to explore leadership without full cohort commitment, the Staley School also offers the Spring 2026 Leading Change workshop series. Workshops are stand-alone sessions open to all graduate students, with no application required. Workshop titles are available now on the Grad Edge website. Registration will open soon.
Graduate school is more than earning a degree, it’s about learning to lead ideas, people, and change. Grad Edge helps students do just that, alongside peers from across the university who are ready to take their next step as scholars and leaders.
For questions, contact Megan Miller, assistant director of student success, at mmmiller@k-state.edu or 785-532-6191, or Mac Benavides, assistant professor, Staley School of Leadership, at mb2008@k-state.edu.
