Nurturing Effective, Transformational Leaders

The College of Science and Engineering has just launched the inaugural class of the Dean’s Fellows. The CSE Fellows will be comprised of undergraduate students selected through a combination of criteria that includes academic performance, commitment to inclusive excellence and shared vision to diversify the STEM workforce. The program is capped at 50 students and is by invitation only. The first Dean’s Fellows cohort will start in the fall.

The fellows will have access to special opportunities over their four years at Seattle University, with themes consistent with the university’s Strategic Directions. 

“These interdisciplinary themes will give students an important opportunity to grapple with important issues facing our world,” says Dean Amit Shukla, PhD. “The Dean’s Fellows will work on issues such as technology and society, climate change and environmental sustainability, racial and economic justice and improving human health, all while doing it with empathy, creativity and innovation.” 

In the first year of the program, participants will:

• Build anchoring connections with peers and a faculty expert within a chosen theme in the college. 
• Take a first-year course with other fellows related to theme and complete at least one co-curricular project, activity or event.
• Develop a deeper understanding of an interdisciplinary problem, question or theme, while gaining individual support for career exploration and development.
• Help shape this new program for future students.

To remain in the Dean’s Fellows program, students are required to maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA in their major and complete each year:

• One approved interdisciplinary theme-related course or seminar.
• An approved integrative co-curricular activity or project that relate to one of the programs’ themes. 
• A reflection essay on these experiences.

“The Dean’s Fellows program offers a one-of-a-kind, transformational experience focused on developing effective leadership among undergraduate students,” says Shukla. “The fellows program cultivates leaders who will flourish in their professions and lives by learning how to think strategically, work collaboratively, communicate effectively and innovate creatively.”

Learn more about the CSE Dean’s Fellows program.