About the School of Leadership Studies

The School of Leadership Studies is UNB’s home for leadership education. Founded in 2000 as Renaissance College, it was created as Canada’s first undergraduate leadership studies program and remains distinctive for its whole-program approach: rigorous academics with intensive experiential learning in small, discussion-based classes.

Our programs are designed for students who care about people, ideas and impact. Faculty, staff, students and alumni share a belief that the world needs leaders who are ethical, adaptable and community minded. Through close mentoring, global and local learning opportunities, and strong community partnerships, we prepare students to drive meaningful change in their workplaces, their communities and in their own lives.

How you learn here

Leadership is not just something you read about; it is something you practice.

In our programs, students learn in small cohorts where they are known, challenged and supported. Coursework and theory are integrated with reflective practice, community projects, internships, applied research, and international placements.

Along the way, students develop a strong set of transferable skills, including:

• critical and systems thinking
• clear, confident communication
• cross-cultural understanding and global awareness
• collaborative problem solving and facilitation
• ethical reasoning and decision-making
• project design, management and evaluation

Who you become

Graduates of the School of Leadership Studies combine curiosity, care and practical skills so they can lead well in everyday moments and in times of change.

Our students become:

• thoughtful listeners who can bring diverse voices to the table
• bridge-builders who navigate complexity instead of avoiding it
• organizers who can move ideas into action
• advocates who care about justice, sustainability and community wellbeing
• reflective practitioners who keep learning throughout their lives

Our alumni build meaningful careers across sectors including law, health and medicine, education, public policy, business, social enterprise, the non-profit sector, and sustainability-work such as food security and environmental initiatives. Their stories show the many ways a leadership studies degree creates options and opens doors.

An emerging hub for leadership at UNB

The School of Leadership Studies is steadily growing into a hub for leadership learning and practice at UNB and in the wider community. We are building new collaborations with partners in fields such as engineering, nursing, education and the social sciences to bring a leadership lens to their programs and initiatives.

Through evolving partnerships, community projects, research and public events, we are increasingly part of broader conversations about what effective, ethical leadership looks like in different settings. As we grow, we are positioning the School as a place where people come together to ask hard questions, test new ideas and build practical skills for real-world impact.

Our history

The School of Leadership Studies began in 2000 as Renaissance College, created as part of UNB’s efforts to reimagine undergraduate education. Its development was made possible through a proposal and innovation funding from the J.W McConnell Family Foundation, and it was established as Canada’s first undergraduate leadership studies program, integrating interdisciplinary coursework, community engagement and experiential learning in small cohorts.

Since 2000, our programs have been housed in Maggie Jean Chestnut House at 811 Charlotte Street, a renovated residence opened in 1949 as a women’s residence and named in honour of UNB alumna Maggie Jean Chestnut, through a gift from Lord Beaverbrook.

While our physical home may change as we continue to grow, the spirit of the place remains the same. Students, faculty and staff learn together in a close community, share meals, host events and launch projects that reach far beyond our walls.

Today, as the School of Leadership Studies, we build on the legacy of Renaissance College while looking ahead to new partnerships, new programs and new ways of contributing to conversations about leadership in many fields.