University at Buffalo (UB)
Leadership Resources for Master's Students
Leadership skills are an important part of personal and professional development as a master's student. Improving your self-awareness, ability to lead effectively, capacity for strategic decision-making, and building collaborative networks can aid your academic and professional success. Whether you have previous leadership experience or are seeking leadership experience for the first time, we want you to feel confident and prepared as an effective leader. We've compiled a list of offices, workshops and other resources to help strengthen your leadership skills. Explore the resources below to see how we can best assist you in your master's journey.
- You can learn leadership skills by taking on leadership roles in the Graduate Student Association (GSA). The GSA is your student association representing and supporting graduate students through funding, programming and advocacy. The GSA has elected officers, a president, vice president, treasurer, and other leadership positions. The GSA also supports graduate student clubs in three categories (departmental clubs, international clubs and special interest clubs). Gain leadership skills by becoming involved in graduate student clubs.
- Micro-credentials are a way to develop and strengthen your leadership skills.
- The Strategic Leaders Badge, one of two badges offered as part of the Developmental Experiences micro-credential, is designed to connect students with leadership opportunities across campus and beyond, allowing students to learn leadership skills and strategies. This was designed for undergraduates, but graduate students can participate as well.
- The Organizational Development Badge is the second badge offered as part of the Developmental Experiences micro-credential. It was designed for undergraduates, but graduate students can participate as well. This Badge gives participants the knowledge and skill set to effectively bring together groups of people with a common interest toward a positive goal.
- Student Life offers many leadership training programs open to graduate students. Be sure to join Student Engagement on UBLinked to be added to their newsletter mailing list and learn about programs and events on leadership.
- Virtual Leadership Academy is an eight-module long program that helps graduate students discover who they are as leaders and how to develop their leadership potential. This program is a free, self-paced, on-demand experience for all graduate students.
- Learn more about yourself and others through Extended DISC, an assessment that identifies a person's strengths, preferred behaviors, motivations and communication style.
Featured Partner: Student Engagement
Student Engagement provides experiences that inspire UB pride, empower students to make the most of their UB experience, and help students be engaged contributors in a global society.
The Graduate Brief
Every Wednesday during the semester, the Graduate School emails the "Graduate Brief" to all graduate and professional students, which is a weekly selection of news and happenings within the Graduate School and its partnering offices. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please contact grad@buffalo.edu.