Merit-Based Entry

African Leadership Academy aspires to educate talented students from all walks of life. The Academy will admit a diverse student body without regard to the students’ race, gender, citizenship, religious affiliation, class, or family wealth. A multi-faceted selection process will ensure that talented students from all socioeconomic backgrounds have an opportunity to attend the Academy. To facilitate this merit-based student entry, we anticipate that 50% of our students will require financial assistance to attend the Academy.

Leadership Development

Leadership will be formally taught in the school’s curriculum, with the goal of instilling a robust system of values in our students. From case studies of African leaders like Nelson Mandela and Kwame Nkrumah, students will discover the traits of highly effective African leaders. The Academy’s “Leadership Perspectives” speaker series will bring distinguished leaders from across the continent to share their experiences with students. Each student will also receive individual leadership coaching from his or her personal mentor, a mid-career professional who embodies the Academy values. Students will engage in various exercises and experiences designed to develop their ‘emotional intelligence,’ a hallmark of highly effective leaders. Finally, students will be required to plan and participate in community projects that challenge them to demonstrate compassion and humility while discovering public service.

Entrepreneurial Training

African Leadership Academy seeks to provide its students with the foundation and inspiration they will need to create entrepreneurial ventures on the African continent. Students will read case studies about entrepreneurs and learn how to write business plans, raise capital, and assemble a great team. Speakers will act as entrepreneurial role models and will help students gain the confidence required to one day embark upon their own entrepreneurial journeys. An annual business plan competition for seniors with a cash award will motivate students to think about the types of organizations they someday want to create and lead. Finally, the Academy will have student-run businesses (including the bookstore, the theatre, and a café) on campus in which students will hone their entrepreneurial skills.

Pan-African Focus

The Academy will provide students with a deep understanding of the African experience. Such an understanding is essential if our future leaders are to learn from the successes and failures of the past. In our unique African Studies curriculum, students will study African history, literature, geography, and languages in order to develop an appreciation for Africa’s cultures and customs. The diversity within the student body will allow graduates to develop a network of peers from across the continent. These experiences will enable Academy graduates to think on a pan-African scale and function effectively across the continent.

Expertise in University and Career Placement

African Leadership Academy will help students gain admission to the world’s premiere universities and will provide students with expert guidance in navigating the university admissions process. We will ensure that our graduates have a strong chance of gaining admission to and scholarship assistance from the universities that best match their interests and needs. After students have left for university, the Academy’s careers office will maintain relations with graduates, alerting them to job opportunities and enabling them to build a career on the continent.