What do we mean at DePaul by a “Socially Responsible Leader”?
DePaul’s Vision Twenty12 calls for a special focus on “developing socially-responsible leaders and engaged alumni.” This goal is central to the full expression and realization of our Catholic, Vincentian and urban mission, which challenges us to maintain vigilant attention to the common good and to the sacred dignity of all people, especially the poor and marginalized.
The development of socially responsible leaders in today’s complex, global, and ever-changing world requires a commitment to students’ holistic and integrated learning by a community of faculty, staff and University partners who accompany and mentor students on their developmental path. Moreover, it requires that the University community itself embody what it seeks to develop in its students, thus acting as an effective mentoring community and environment.
At DePaul, five broad categories have emerged as central to our understanding of socially responsible leadership:

1. Self-Understanding & Personal Integrity
Socially responsible leaders have achieved a sense of self-authorship or personal agency. They critically assess and actively discern how their personal gifts, talents, resources, and abilities might best contribute to the broader human community. They articulate and live with a sense of authenticity, purpose, and ethical integrity. They maintain an appreciation for the transcendent dimension of human life, and seek ongoing personal and spiritual development and growth. They understand their personal values within the context of deeper cultural, historical, and philosophical/theological roots.
2. Taking Seriously the Perspective of Others
Socially responsible leaders engage and listen compassionately to alternative and diverse perspectives and people. Rooted in the spirit of the Vincentian tradition, they have a