The Citadel's Bold Move: A New School for Future Leaders

The Citadel, a well-known institution, is making a big change. They are building a new school focused on leadership and ethics. This isn't just any school; it's a place where students will learn to make tough decisions using real-world scenarios. The new Krause School of Leadership and Ethics will combine two existing programs. It will have a special lab where students can practice handling crises. They will use advanced technology to simulate these situations. This way, students can learn how to apply what they've studied in class to real-life problems. The school will also have a space for guest speakers. Leaders from different fields will come and share their experiences. This will give students a chance to learn from people who have been in the thick of things. Brig. Gen. Sally Selden, who is in charge of academic affairs, says this school will help create a collection of leadership case studies. These can be used by others around the country. She believes it's crucial to develop principled leaders, especially now when the world is facing complex issues. The Citadel has always been about leadership. But this new school will take it a step further. It will expand research in leadership and ethics. The building itself is being renovated from a former faculty administration building. It will be a place to test how artificial intelligence and other new technologies can be used in leadership training. Selden emphasizes the importance of understanding theory, but also knowing how to apply it. She says that when faced with leadership issues, it's not always straightforward. Students need to think broadly and critically. The groundbreaking ceremony for the new school is happening soon. The plan is for it to open in 2026. There are also talks about adding another unit for executive leadership development in the future.