Deadline: July 20, 2025
Applications are open for the Presidential Leadership Scholars Class of 2026. The Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS) brings together bold and principled leaders who are committed to facing critical challenges and interested in exploring lessons learned during the administrations of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson. They are looking for people who have the desire and capacity to build upon their strengths to improve people’s lives.
The PLS program challenges Scholars to develop their leadership skills in an environment in which individuals’ experiences are seen as strengths and are respected, supported, and valued. Within this welcoming and inclusive climate, Scholars are expected to do the following both in and out of the program:
- Engage in deep reflection about their personal leadership development, including acknowledging habits of exclusion and creating new habits of inclusion.
- Commit to meaningful interactions with others whose life experiences and perspectives are different than their own, even if those interactions are uncomfortable.
- Include diverse perspectives in the framing of challenges and consideration of responses.
- Work to ensure the full participation of others in influencing change.
- Seek understanding with others, especially when they disagree.
Costs
- The four presidential centers are committed to ensuring that leaders across the country can participate in this program at no cost to the Scholars. Tuition, housing, meals, and travel during the sessions in the host center’s city are fully funded by contributions from program supporters.
Eligibility
- All applicants must fit one of the following criteria regarding citizenship and country of residence:
- A citizen of the United States living and working in the country;
- A citizen of the United States living and working outside of the country, but who can pay for all non-domestic costs associated with traveling to each module;
- A legal resident of the United States living and working in the country.
- The minimum age for participants is 21. While there is no maximum age, most Scholars have 10+ years of professional experience and are at a point in their careers where their participation and the lessons learned in PLS will be able to be put into practice for many years to come.
- Exceptionally qualified candidates with less than 10 years of experience will be considered for the Presidential Leadership Scholars program.
The program assembles a unique and diverse cohort of high-potential leaders from all sectors. Scholars most successful in the program share certain characteristics:
- Civically minded: Acts to improve society.
- Open to feedback: Seeks, mindfully accepts, and actively responds to assessments of their behavior and performance.
- Accepting of diverse points of view: Welcomes opportunities to interact with and learn from others with different backgrounds or perspectives.
- Meaningful professional experience: Has breadth and depth of professional experience — typically 10+ years — and will build on the PLS experience for years to come.
- Demonstrated leadership: Presents an established record of engagement and leadership. (PLS is not an introductory course in leadership.)
- Influence: Is in a position to implement the change they desire.
- Committed to the program: Can fully participate in a rigorous and intense six-month program.
Application
All application materials, including recommendations, must be submitted online by 11:59 PM CT Sunday, July 20, 2025. Following a thorough review of each application, they will invite a group of applicants to interview for final selection into the program.
Finalists will be notified by mid-September if they have been invited to participate in the interview process. Interviews will be conducted in early October, and final acceptance decisions will be made in December 2025.
For more information, visit Presidential Leadership Scholars.
