Student Leadership
UWM offers a variety of leadership programs to help you develop your unique strengths and turn them into real-world skills.
Whether you’re interested in honing your personal leadership style, becoming an agent of social change, or simply leveraging your existing experience, there’s a program for you. Many programs focus on practical application, with hands-on activities, workshops, and opportunities to connect with peers and mentors. You can even develop a plan to showcase your newfound leadership skills on your resume or in future applications. So, take the first step towards your leadership journey and explore what UWM has to offer!
Featured Events
A 4-week program where you’ll explore five key leadership practices with a cohort. Through discussions, activities, and friendly competition, you’ll answer essential questions like: How do I lead based on my values? How can I inspire and create positive change? How do I empower others and celebrate successes?
Register today!
How I Lead – Student Involvement
Register today!
How I Lead – Student Involvement
Friday, March 7, 2025
Recognize student organizations and leaders on campus who exhibit outstanding dedication and positive contributions to UWM!
Student Excellence Awards – Student Involvement
Student Excellence Awards – Student Involvement
Leadership Lunch and Learn
Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
Union 381 (13th); Union 119 (20th)
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
Union 381 (13th); Union 119 (20th)
Looking to level up your leadership skills in just 20 minutes? Drop in for a bite to eat and a quick interactive session on practical leadership hacks you can use right away. Each session is packed with insights, activities, and tools to help you lead with confidence and creativity–all while enjoying free lunch!
Drop-in Programs – Student Involvement
Tuesdays, February 11, 18, 25
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
UWM Student Union, 3rd Floor Student Involvement Lounge
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
UWM Student Union, 3rd Floor Student Involvement Lounge
Looking for a space to chat about hot topics with supportive peers? Join us for The Tuesday Tea, a casual drop-in series with bold conversations, teatime treats, and a free keepsake mug!
Programs & Workshops
Leverage your UWM experiences, both inside and outside the classroom, to develop a leadership philosophy, identify your top 5 strengths, and translate them into marketable skills through this 3-day program.
A 4-week program where you’ll explore five key leadership practices with a cohort. Through discussions, activities, and friendly competition, you’ll answer essential questions like: How do I lead based on my values? How can I inspire and create positive change? How do I empower others and celebrate successes?
Unleash your inner leader and connect with fellow UWM classmates through Ignite! This program combines large-group learning sessions with hands-on challenges, plus small-group discussions led by your Ignite Cluster and Coach. It culminates in a celebratory retreat, providing tools like the Ignite Workbook and Personal Reflection Guide to help you chart your unique leadership journey.
Embracing all identities, this five-week program empowers students to become agents of social change. Through activities fostering activism, you’ll develop practical skills to navigate the path from intent to impact. Participate alongside a diverse community and learn from mandatory workshops like Allies, Advocates, and Activists, to make a real difference.
Explore how you see yourself v. how others see you, learn how to ask for and be truly receptive to feedback, plan a hypothetical bank heist and take part in Debate Club warm-ups. What do these seemingly random activities have in common? Come find out how to Leave Your Mark!
This program takes you on a journey of self-discovery through a comprehensive strengths assessment, revealing your unique talents. You’ll then receive a personalized report offering valuable insights, and collaborate with a dedicated mentor to understand, analyze, and leverage your top 5 strengths into a concrete plan for achieving your future goals.
Whether it is Meals with Meaning, Bullet Journaling workshops, guided conversations at the Tuesday Tea, or skill-building workshops, we are always adding new options for you to delve into Leadership Education.
Join a delegation of UWM students as we travel to attend the St. Norbert Student Leadership Conference and others.
On & Off Campus Leadership Opportunities
Services
Teambuilding Totes
We’ve assembled tote bags for you to check out and use with your student organization, student staff, or other groups. The totes include activities for team building, energizing, and breaking the ice. In addition to the totes, we also have larger challenge-course activities available for check-out, including Pipeline, Bullring and The Maze.
Email for more Teambuilding Totes InformationCustom Workshops
In addition to the workshops and Leadership Institutes offered by Student Leadership Programs, we also are able to prepare custom sessions!
Custom Workshop Request FormLeadership Newsletter
Our monthly Leadership Newsletters focus on a wide spectrum of topics to create and share useful content, schedule events in advance and share with your friends.
Subscribe to the NewsletterLeadership Library
In the Student Involvement wing on the third floor of the Union, we have a full Leadership Library. Available to you are works from many acclaimed authors within the world of Leadership. You may find books related to making ideas stick, exploring leadership theories, navigating tricky conversations, tips for guiding groups, or activating change in yourself or others.
Email for more Leadership Library InformationStudent Excellence Awards
The Student Excellence Awards at UW-Milwaukee honor outstanding contributions from individuals, student organizations, student employees, and professional staff who demonstrate leadership, service, and innovation. Categories recognize achievements such as exemplary advising, impactful programs, community service, advocacy for diversity, and initiatives that inspire positive change on campus and beyond.