Edwards Leadership Development Program

Program Mission

The Edwards Leadership Development Program (ELDP) at California State University Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime), as well as its successor Cal Poly Solano Campus and Cal Poly Maritime Academy, integrates experiential learning with academic coursework as inspired by both Outward Bound and National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) models. It emphasizes outdoor expeditions, progressive leadership training, and peer mentorship, offering a unified and holistic leadership development experience to all students and maritime academy cadets enrolled at the Cal Poly Solano campus. In line with the donors' intent, key leadership skills are now embedded across several academic courses.

The revised program also introduces a strong focus on community building, encouraging students to form supportive relationships within teams, on campus, and in the wider maritime and global communities. ELDP aims to develop leaders who contribute to collective success with a strong sense of purpose, collaboration, and responsibility.

Program Purpose and Goals

Foundational Focus:

• Develops self-awareness and social awareness through reflective and group activities.
• Encourages understanding of personal strengths, values, growth areas, and the impact of one's behavior on others.

Experiential Learning:

• Inspired by Outward Bound/NOLS and Maritime General Education models.
• Emphasizes real-world application of leadership through outdoor expeditions, classroom engagement, and co-curricular activities.
• Builds adaptability, communication, critical thinking, and teamwork.

Professional Preparation:

• Integrates workplace-readiness activities that reflect Cal Maritime's learn-by-doing approach.
• Includes etiquette dinners, practice meals, and the Edwards Etiquette Dinner to foster professionalism, interpersonal skills, and social awareness.
• Provides structured settings where students apply leadership principles in realistic and professional contexts.

Acknowledgment

Thanks to the generous support of Tom and Libby Edwards, the ELDP offers cadets and students a distinct leadership advantage. The program began in 2014 with their generous gift, combining maritime education with world-class leadership development.

ELDP@csum.edu