Academic Opportunities
Leadership Case Study Competitions
Each year, the Leadership Studies department and President’s Leadership Program send teams of CNU students to compete against teams from others schools to solve case studies by applying leadership theories and concepts. Students submit a brief application to be considered for a place on a CNU team. These opportunities run in conjunction with annual conferences of the International Leadership Association (ILA) and the Virginia Military Institute and the Collegiate Leadership Competition. Christopher Newport teams have routinely taken first and second place in these competitions many times!
Undergraduate Research & Conferences
Faculty individually mentor interested students in research projects that can stem from class assignments and grow into a more in-depth study of a topic or can begin as a student’s own idea based on a topic of interest. Faculty help students propose their scholarly work to be presented at undergraduate research conferences, such as the McDonough Leadership Conference and CNU’s Paideia conference. Students may also propose to present their work at national or international venues, such as the International Leadership Association conference, International Studying Leadership Conference, Southwestern Political Science Association, or others in different disciplines depending on the area of research.
Center for American Studies Junior Fellows
Students engage in original research with a Center for American Studies faculty mentor, present research at academic conferences, receive training in archival research and copy editing, and assist with programming.