MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University’s Institute of Leadership Excellence marked a milestone in 2026 as it celebrated its 20th year, reflecting two decades of growth, adaptation, and impact on undergraduate leaders across campus.

Founded in 2006 after a cross-disciplinary group of faculty and staff designed the program the previous year, the Institute of Leadership Excellence, or ILE, has become one of MTSU’s signature leadership‑development experiences. The program did not run in 2007 but has operated every year since, evolving while maintaining its core mission of helping students understand and apply leadership principles through immersive, experiential learning.

The inaugural ILE cohort was funded by H. Lee Martin, whose family has long supported leadership education at MTSU. Lee and his brother, Paul Martin Jr., helped establish ILE with the shared goal of creating a program that would prepare students for leadership roles in the community and beyond. The institute continues to be taught each year in the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors building, reflecting that original vision.

Led by faculty in the Jones College of Business, the institute began as a three‑week program meeting from morning until evening. 

“In 2008, we revised the program to one week,” said David Foote, professor of management and co‑founder of the institute. “Although the basic structure of ILE remains very similar to when it began, we continue to update specific leadership content, case studies, and class discussions based on current events and the latest leadership research.”

The program blends lectures, discussions, activities, and guest speakers with hands‑on projects that challenge students to think critically about leadership. Participants create original leadership‑development materials, such as case studies and role‑playing exercises, that can be used in future educational settings.

Leigh Anne Clark, director of the institute and professor of management, said one of the most meaningful aspects of ILE is the environment it creates for students. 

“One of the gifts of ILE is to be in a room with deeply committed and driven students from all over campus, from different disciplines, striving to make a difference in their communities,” she said. “They take away different perspectives and have real conversations about what it means to be a leader.”

Clark said students learn that effective leadership is rooted in authenticity and values. They also benefit from hearing local leaders challenge their thinking and broaden their perspectives.

The institute has expanded its curriculum to reflect changes in the leadership landscape. While early years focused more on leadership styles, recent sessions emphasize qualities such as humility, resilience and agility. Faculty now incorporate lessons on artificial intelligence and its implications for leadership. Kelly Manix, an assistant professor of management in the Jones College and an alumna of the inaugural 2006 ILE class, has brought research on ethics, agility, and resilience into the program.

Foote said today’s students approach leadership differently than those who attended 20 years ago. 

“Today’s students think of leadership as much more relational,” he said. “Empathy and diversity play more substantial roles in students’ lives these days. They inherently understand that leadership has more to do with how you interact with others than with the title or position you hold.”

Over the years, ILE has produced more than 560 graduates representing more than 50 majors. Many have gone on to leadership roles in academia, business and public service. Alumni now return as guest speakers, sharing their experiences with current students.

Clark said she hopes the next 20 years of ILE continue to balance tradition with innovation. 

“ILE is a beautiful weeklong dance that provides inspiration all year long,” she said. “I hope the core song remains while the moves evolve to meet the moment.”

For more information about ILE, visit ile.mtsu.edu/. 

— Robin.E.Lee ([email protected])