Learning about ethical leadership & sustainability in Zimbabwe!

President's Leadership Council is a competitive scholarship and leadership program for outstanding first-year students that teaches the importance of leadership and serving throughout life. Each year, a select group of 125 students is chosen to be a part of the PLC class. This class includes a three-day summer leadership retreat, a first-year leadership course credit, and a second-year study abroad option.

PLC Class & Facilitators 2022-2023

Along with the year-long program is the opportunity to study abroad in Zimbabwe over the summer. Students are introduced to a different way of life, immersed in the culture of Zimbabwe, and meet and learn from Okstate Alumni Dr. Tererai Trent. Dr. Trent runs a nonprofit organization that supports communities and education development in rural Zimbabwe. This trip is a fantastic opportunity for PLC students to experience ethical and sustainable leadership practices, gain a global perspective, and grow in their critical system thinking.

Lanie Varner & Dr. Tererai Trent

While abroad in Zimbabwe, students get to experience an array of culture and different settings. Students visit the capital of Harare, rural villages in the Hurungwe region, and Victoria Falls. The trip is an immersive experience into daily life and struggles that Zimbabweans face. Issues of gender equality, ethical leadership, sustainable development, and histories of colonialism are only the brink of subjects and experiences that students will face. This trip can truly change the way a student views the world and will undoubtedly be a formative experience for all who attend. From seeing Victoria Falls to playing uno in the dark in a remote village in Zimbabwe, students will have the opportunity to create lifelong memories.