Designing Leaders Program

As a student who is about to start a career as an engineer or technologist, you need to find a way to stand out to potential employers. A recent survey of US companies showed that leadership is considered a key characteristic that they are looking for with future hires. The Designing Leaders Program is an educational experience developed by the UL Lafayette College of Engineering to provide you, its students, an opportunity to develop stronger leadership skills.

Program Description

The Designing Leaders Program is a lecture series held each spring semester. Sessions include speakers who are carefully selected for their prestigious positions and involvement in the community and industry to provide you with critical leadership knowledge. Past speakers have included presidents, CEOs, and owners of large and small businesses. Politicians, published authors, state officials, inventors, and many more have also participated.

Program Content

Participants will take part in discussions related to presentations given by experts regarding a wide variety of skills commonly associated with successful leaders. Participants will also learn about contracts, budgeting, writing proposals, public speaking, and much more. The 2027 class of Designing Leaders will meet on the following dates:

Requirements for Participation

All participants must be selected to participate:

Apply to be considered for selection. The Designing Leaders program is limited to 40 participants, who are selected by a special committee.

Graduate students may apply at any time. Interested undergraduate students should apply at the end of the Fall semester of their senior or junior year. Sophomore applications are given lower priority. Freshmen may not apply.

Please note: All Systems Engineering PhD students are required to complete the program before graduation. All Systems PhD students must apply, meet the requirements, and be accepted to the program. Failure to complete the program before graduation will result in a delayed graduation date.

All participants must be in good standing with the University:

Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75, have completed at least 60 hours of undergraduate coursework, and not be on any academic probation, disciplinary probation or deferred suspension with the University.

All participants must be current UL Lafayette engineering students:

Must be a current student majoring in Engineering & Technology Management or Chemical, Civil, Electrical & Computer, Mechanical, or Petroleum Engineering.

Both undergraduate and graduate students may apply.

All participants must adhere to the attendance policy:

Attendance Policy: Participants are expected to attend all sessions, which are held on Tuesday evenings during the Spring Semester from 6-9 p.m. No more than one session may be missed, and absences should be reserved for emergencies or illness only. A second absence will result in removal from the program. Please note: There are no exceptions to this policy.

If a scheduled session is canceled due to unforeseen circumstances, a mandatory make-up session will be scheduled. 

Designing Leaders Application Process

Interested students should apply here

Online applications only

• Send all questions to engineering@louisiana.edu
• All applications are due by Friday, December 4, 2026
• Applicants will be notified of their selection status by email after the application period closes.

Student Recognition

All graduates of the program will be given a stole to commemorate participation at their commencement ceremony.