New Mexico State University’s Student Involvement & Leadership Programs, in partnership with the Graduate Wellness Initiative, has launched a new graduate-level professional development series designed to support leadership growth among graduate students.
The Leadership Empowerment & Academic Development workshop series kicked off Jan. 30 and will continue throughout the spring 2026 semester with six additional sessions focused on leadership development, communication, collaboration and professional growth. LEAD is designed to support graduate students as confident, effective and well-rounded leaders in both academic and professional settings.
LEAD spring 2026 workshop schedule:
· Leading Self: Effective Communication and Feedback: 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Feb. 27, at the SILP Office, Corbett Center Student Union, second floor, Room 205
· Leading Others: Negotiation and Conflict Feedback: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, March 6, at the SILP Office, Corbett Center Student Union, second floor, Room 205 (Deadline to RSVP for graduation)
· Leading Others: Situational Leadership and Delegation: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, March 27, at the SILP Office, Corbett Center Student Union, second floor, Room 205
· Leading Organizations: Fostering Innovation and Change Management: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, April 10, at the SILP Office, Corbett Center Student Union, second floor, Room 205
· Networking and Social: Building Professional Presence: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, April 24, at the Graduate Student Lounge
· LEAD Graduation: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, April 30, location to be determined
“The topics for the LEAD workshop series were intentionally developed through a combination of student input and professional expertise,” said Rebeca Portillo, graduate assistant who helped develop the program. “We first distributed an interest and needs assessment form to connect with potential candidates for the inaugural cohort and analyzed responses to identify common challenges, interests and skill gaps. These insights were then combined with professional experience and the lived perspectives of current graduate students, ensuring the series directly reflects the real leadership challenges graduate students face today.”
Portillo said the workshops emphasize practical skill-building that graduate students can immediately apply.
“LEAD is designed as a hands-on, applied learning experience focused on developing transferable skills that graduate students can use in any academic, professional or leadership setting,” she said. “Participants actively practice communication, self-awareness, collaboration and leadership decision-making. The series also includes a networking session that allows students to engage directly with leaders from the campus and local community, helping them connect theory to real-world practice while building meaningful professional relationships.”
Program organizers will assess the impact of the LEAD series through ongoing engagement and participant feedback.
“The impact of the LEAD series will be assessed through multiple evaluation methods,” Portillo said. “A dedicated Canvas course will be used to track participant engagement, reflections and applied learning activities throughout the semester. In addition, participants will have structured opportunities to evaluate the program, share feedback and provide recommendations for improvement. This dual approach allows SILP and GWI to measure both student growth and program effectiveness while continuously refining the series.”
Graduate students interested in participating are encouraged to attend upcoming sessions throughout the semester.
For more information about LEAD or future graduate leadership opportunities, contact Graduate Wellness Initiative at gwi@nmsu.edu or Student Involvement & Leadership Programs at silp@nmsu.edu.