STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF LEADERSHIP AND THE WAYS IN WHICH
LEADERSHAPE INFLUENCES THE DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENT LEADERS

A Thesis
Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the
Louisiana State University and
Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Arts in Liberal Arts in The Interdepartmental Program in Liberal Arts

by
David Dial
A.B., Duke University, 2002
May 2006

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT................................................................................................................................... iii
CHAPTER
1 INTRODUCTION, STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM, METHOLOGY, AND
LIMITATIONS....................................................................................................................1
Statement of the Problem..................................................................................................1
Methodology .....................................................................................................................3
Limitations of Current Study ............................................................................................6
2

LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................................................8
Gender as a Factor for Leadership Growth.....................................................................10
Race and Leadership Development ................................................................................13
Born or Bred?..................................................................................................................14
Student Development Theory .........................................................................................15
Potential Benefits of Leadership Development Programs ..............................................16