About the Meriwether Lewis Institute

Background

Shortly after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, Thomas Jefferson was faced with the decision of who to trust to lead the expedition westward. He chose Captain Meriwether Lewis, a native of Albemarle County and one of his personal aides. Lewis was just 29 years old. Along with his close friend William Clark, Lewis led a resoundingly successful transcontinental expedition, losing only one member of his crew to appendicitis. The Expedition – and its leadership – was widely praised as a crowning achievement of Jefferson’s presidency.

In founding the University of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson envisioned a new kind of university, one dedicated to educating leaders in practical affairs and public service rather than for professions in the classroom and pulpit exclusively. The Lewis Institute aims to develop young leaders like Meriwether Lewis, equipping students with the tools they need for effective leadership both on the University’s Grounds and beyond.

A New Approach to Self-Governance

Student self-governance has been a part of the University of Virginia since its earliest days. Today’s students take this core value to heart, and it remains a foundational part of their UVA experience. The Meriwether Lewis Institute for Citizen Leadership is a multiyear fellowship program that equips students for a lifetime of leadership. Participating students benefit from life-changing experiences right here on Grounds. The Lewis Institute bolsters student self-governance by equipping students to take on roles as leaders and innovators while on Grounds. Students give back to the University in meaningful ways, embracing this experience as a training ground for citizen leadership.

Vision

The MLI Program envisions a growing community of citizen leaders who are committed to using their knowledge, relationships, and values to uplift others and drive positive change in the communities they serve.

Mission

The Meriwether Lewis Institute for Citizen Leadership is a multi-year program that empowers students to grow as courageous, compassionate, and capable leaders—on Grounds and beyond. Through courses, projects, and close mentorship, MLI Fellows develop the tools, relationships, and confidence to make meaningful change.

Fellows leave the program ready to:

Strengthen a culture of student self-governance by sharing what they’ve learned with their communities.
Lead as thoughtful, knowledgeable partners for change at UVA and wherever life takes them next.

Key Program Elements

The Meriwether Lewis Institute for Citizen Leadership at the University of Virginia is a multi-year fellowship that prepares students for a lifetime of leadership at the University and beyond. The Institute brings together a multifaceted group of U.Va. students for a 2.5-year immersive leadership experience. Each cohort of Fellows is comprised of 25 students selected in the fall of their second year at the University. The program has three key elements:

Academics

Participants are selected for the program in the fall semester of their second year and begin by enrolling in a course in the Batten School called "Leadership in Practice" (LPPL 4225) in the spring semester. In preparation for their project-based summer program, this three-credit course will focus on advancing students' current skills and helping them to develop new leadership competencies. LPPL 4225 approaches will be used to leverage current and future leadership experience. Students will be well-prepared to lead their organizations after completing this course. Professor Tim Davis and other university colleagues lead the course. Tim is known for teaching the "Resilient Student and Resilient Teams" courses at the University.

In the fall semester of their third year, MLI Fellows are required to enroll in LPPP 4500. This Batten's course teaches students how to bring their ideas to life and readies them for their MLI meaningful engagement projects. Through a combination of self-reflection, design thinking, prototyping, dialogue practice, and leadership development, students will design and execute engagement projects rooted in personal purpose and community connection.

Summer 2025 Virginia Guest House Construction site

Summer Program

In the summer between their second and third years, the Fellows stay in Charlottesville for a four-week program where they learn various leadership skills (covering topics like public speaking, budgeting, presentation skills, and interpersonal dynamics). Experts from across the University and real-world leaders from various sectors lead workshops and share their perspectives with the Fellows. The Fellows also have the opportunity to meet with deans and other leaders from across the University to discuss the challenges the University faces and how student leaders can help. The Fellows work on a group project throughout the four-week program, presenting their work to a diverse group of University stakeholders in the final week. All costs of the summer program are covered for the students, including room, program costs, and a stipend for completion.

Program Calendar

Meaningful Engagement

The third part of the program, happening in the students’ third and fourth years, offers the Fellows the opportunity to apply what they've learned to key University issues. Fellows participate in independent and small group projects aimed at improving the University which they began developing over the course of the summer program and flesh out with the help of assigned University mentors over the course of their third year. This allows Fellows to creatively design a project that will positively impact the UVA community. The students work with MLI staff, their mentors, and other University leaders to implement their meaningful engagement projects. By leveraging their acquired knowledge from the summer program and courses completed during their MLI experience, students generate distinctive ideas that will have a profound impact on the University community.

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Professional Staff

	Julie Caruccio Assistant Vice President for Research on the Student Experience
	Betty Chelli Associate Director for the Second Year Experience
	Gary Ballinger Richard D. Wood Bicentennial Professor of Commerce
	Rakeem Walker Program Coordinator

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