Envisioning my future self: Students' leadership perceptions of doctoral advisors

Katherine Najjar, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Abstract

Four female international doctoral students at a very high research institution in the U.S. reported ways in which they had grown as individuals and as scholars through their relationships with their advisors and their mentors. Four female students reported advisory and leadership modeling as highly satisfying. The women reported growth in self-efficacy and feelings of personal accomplishment that male students in the study did not discuss. The students began to frame themselves as future leaders, and discussed ways in which their advisors and mentors mindfully guided their scholarly activities. The leadership style that each advisor had in common was servant leadership. Implications for mentoring and servant leadership in global higher education are discussed.