Dallas College Wants You To Be a Leader. These Courses Will Show You How.

Aug. 14, 2026

At Dallas College, leadership development is a core part of the student experience. Amblessed Okwu Each semester, the college provides courses, activities and events designed to help you reach your full potential, preparing you for success long after graduation.

Dallas College Student Life and Engagement Student Leadership and Development invites you to not only get involved but to discover your potential as a leader. To help you do that, we offer two courses designed to support your student leadership development journey: 

• Becoming a Student Leader
• Entrepreneurial Philanthropy

There is no additional cost for the courses as they are included as part of your tuition. Classes begin Monday, Sept. 8, with lunch and learn orientation sessions to be held Sept. 2 and 3. Learn more and register.

Stepping onto a college campus is a milestone, and it is entirely normal to feel shy. But you do not have to navigate this new environment alone. Dallas College is committed to creating a welcoming space where every student can build meaningful connections and find a true sense of belonging. Stepping outside of your comfort zone to find your community is where your personal and professional growth begins.

Last fall, El Centro Campus nursing student Amblessed Okwu started out feeling shy and uneasy, but she pushed outside her comfort zone and signed up for the leadership courses. She’s glad she did.

“I came here straight out of high school as an international student and it was overwhelming — a big culture shock,” she said. “I felt like I wouldn’t be able to fit into American culture.”

In high school she faced bullying. “That dimmed my light. Coming into college I was scared because I didn’t want to go through that again. I thought it was best to just be quiet and not talk to anyone. But everyone was so welcoming and encouraging.”

Eventually, a friend invited her to join the Student Government Association (SGA). Today, she’s SGA president for El Centro Campus.

“As a leader, I really want to let students know that it’s not about the title. I’m here to serve and encourage people the way I was encouraged. I want to pass on the skills I’ve learned,” she said.

The Becoming a Student Leader class was amazing, Okwu said. “It connected us to not just be a leader but to fully understand ourselves. It helped me come out of my shell. Before, I used to shake if I had to speak to a crowd of just 10 people, and now I can speak to large crowds without any hesitation, fear or anxiety.”

Nurses can’t be shy, Okwu said. “You have to communicate with patients. This training boosted my confidence.”

And, she said, it led her to envision a career in healthcare leadership. “It helped me understand the love I have for management and to want to further my education,” she said.

She plans to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Dallas College and, eventually, a doctorate in healthcare management.

Becoming a Student Leader

Students must complete the Becoming a Student Leader course first. It is designed to help you discover your leadership potential as you develop new skills and confidence. It centers around three competencies:

• Lead Self: Self-awareness, identifying strengths and values, building emotional intelligence and a leadership philosophy.
• Lead Others: Effective communication, relationship building, collaboration and conflict navigation, and being an ethical and authentic leader.
• Lead Change: Students complete a capstone project by identifying a challenge affecting their campus or community and design an innovative solution.

As you master the competencies, you will earn digital badges to validate your skills to future employers and transfer institutions.

Entrepreneurial Philanthropy in Action

The second course, Entrepreneurial Philanthropy in Action, puts leadership into practice by applying entrepreneurial thinking and philanthropic principles to real-world challenges. Through experiential labs tied to Student Life, students work collaboratively to identify community needs, develop innovative solutions and implement projects that generate measurable social impact.

As you continue to co-author your journey, Student Leadership and Development will be with you every step of the way. Throughout the semester, you can expect a variety of programming designed to keep you engaged, culminating in a Student Leadership and Resiliency Conference, featuring virtual attendance on Nov. 12, followed by an in-person experience on Nov. 13. Bookmark this webpage and keep an eye on the event calendar so you never miss an opportunity to grow.

• Events
• Resources