Each year, the Panetta Institute brings together student body presidents and other elected student leaders from the twenty-three California State University campuses, Santa Clara University and Dominican University of California to help them hone their leadership skills and develop leadership strategies for addressing campus, community and national problems.

The one-week seminar, called Education for Leadership in Public Service, involves the students in intensive role-playing exercises led by Institute director and former White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta, plus direct interaction with a variety of visiting national, state and local leaders. 

Speakers at the Leadership Seminar have included a former California Secretary of State; former members of Congress; highly decorated military leaders; current and former California state senators; current and former members of the state assembly; mayors; county supervisors; national reporters; religious leaders; business leaders; educators; and notable local community leaders, all offering insights into superior leadership from differing perspectives.

This special course was developed in 1999 by a blue-ribbon panel of public officials and academic leaders in response to the findings of the Institute’s national survey of college students, which showed alarmingly low levels of student interest in government and public service. Program costs are fully paid by the university or student body association with which each student participating is affiliated and by the Panetta Institute. Participating students receive four academic credits for their participation in this unique program.

Please contact us for more information.