Last fall, the College of Engineering introduced a new program that's transforming how students build professional skills — while inviting alumni and industry professionals to help shape the next generation of engineering leaders.
LEAP — short for Leadership, Empowerment, and Purpose — builds on the foundation of the college’s Leadership Academy, a long-running initiative that helped students become well-rounded engineers through development opportunities outside the classroom. LEAP takes that model further by putting students in charge of their own growth and connecting them directly with mentors in the engineering community.
A program built for action
Throughout the year, LEAP hosts workshops and social activities. The program also organizes multiple industry visits, such as a multi-day trip to Seattle where students tour companies like Boeing, Blue Origin, Microsoft, and Bristol Myers Squibb, offered at no cost to students. The program culminates in April at the LEAP Summit, where participants present their leadership experiences to a panel of mentors.
At the heart of LEAP is the “leadership action” — a student-led project designed to create positive change. These actions are intentionally open-ended, allowing students to pursue what matters most to them. Some start study groups, lead student clubs, or launch apps.
“It really is a personal project,” said Melissa Ward, director student engagement, who manages the program. “They get to initiate some kind of change or create influence. That action piece is the big difference. We’re putting students to work and starting to see how they show up as leaders.”
Every LEAP student is paired with an engineering mentor, an alumnus or industry professional who meets with them three times during the academic year. Mentors offer career advice, conduct mock interviews, and help students reflect on their goals. The mentorship component, once optional in the Leadership Academy, is now a core part of the LEAP experience.
Student voices
With more than 175 students joining LEAP in its first year, the program is already making a big impact. For many, it’s more than a leadership program, it’s a launchpad for confidence, community, and career opportunities.
For Tillee Muffett, a nuclear science and engineering student, LEAP was transformative. Paired with Kent Welter, Ph.D. nuclear engineering ’02, a founding member of NuScale Power, Muffett gained the confidence to apply for internships as a freshman. Welter helped her prepare with a mock interview, and she landed a summer internship at Portland General Electric's Trojan Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation. Muffett’s leadership action didn’t stop there. She also helped forge a connection between Trojan and NuScale Power, bringing engineers from both organizations together for a collaborative site visit. She’s now coordinating a tour of Oregon State’s Radiation Center for her Trojan colleagues.
For Laraib Nadeem, a computer science student, LEAP was a lifeline. “LEAP helped me go from being a lost freshman international student to someone who found mentorship, learned that leadership is about action, and now gets to help others do the same,” she said.
D’Artagnan Krommenhoek, a mechanical and industrial engineering student, joined LEAP to find a community of students striving to be the best versions of themselves. “I left with industry connections, strengthened communication skills, and an environment I always feel welcome in,” he said.
Students who complete LEAP can return as peer mentors, helping new participants, which both Krommenhoek and Nadaeem are now doing.
Mentorship that makes a difference
Nitin JBS, who earned his master’s in computer science at Oregon State in 2017, is a product manager at Way.com. He served as a LEAP mentor last year, working with two students, Mani Prathi and Guillermo Morales, on a campus resource hub and a student-focused marketplace, respectively.
“The mentorship focused on ideation, user research, and preparing a product plan,” JBS said. “LEAP gave me a meaningful opportunity to stay connected to the OSU community as a mentor, passing along the guidance I once received to younger students.”
JBS credits his own Oregon State mentors with shaping his path and sees LEAP as a way to give back. “Mentorship is a constant third eye that reminds us there is always more to learn and improve,” he said. “It’s also a mirror for self-reflection and a chance to grow.”
Get involved
LEAP’s success depends on the engagement of alumni and industry professionals. Whether you’re an alum eager to give back or a professional looking to connect with future talent, mentoring through LEAP offers a meaningful way to support students — and grow in the process.
To learn more about becoming a LEAP mentor or supporting the program, contact melissa.ward@oregonstate.edu.
