The Pragmatic Student Leader

Building a Career-Ready Leadership Development Program in Community Colleges

De: Dr. David G. Rettig

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

Community colleges educate nearly half of all undergraduates in the United States, yet they remain largely absent from the national conversation on leadership development. Employers consistently report that new hires lack the “soft skills” required to thrive—communication, teamwork, adaptability, and initiative. These are not luxuries; they are the leadership competencies that determine whether graduates advance in their careers.

The Pragmatic Student Leader argues that community colleges are uniquely positioned to close this leadership gap. Drawing on original research, years of classroom experience, and a deep understanding of workforce demands, Dr. David G. Rettig outlines a clear, evidence-based roadmap for designing and sustaining leadership development programs that are both practical and scalable.

Rather than treating leadership as an extracurricular activity reserved for honors students or student government, Rettig reframes it as a core institutional strategy—one that boosts retention, strengthens student engagement, and directly prepares learners for the workforce.

This book provides:

• A diagnosis of the leadership gap and why community college students, often pragmatic and time-constrained, need leadership skills embedded into their academic journey.

• Research-driven insights into what actually changes student mindsets, including evidence from the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) and mock interview assessments.

• A program blueprint with design principles for integrating leadership across curricula, including specialized leadership education tied to career pathways, capstone experiences, and standardized assessments.

• Solutions for institutional barriers, from enrollment and access challenges to faculty preparation and program sustainability.

• A long-term vision for measuring ROI, tracking career trajectories, and scaling leadership education from pilot programs to institutionalized practice.

Through compelling composite student stories, employer perspectives, and faculty insights, The Pragmatic Student Leader shows why leadership education cannot remain optional in community colleges—and how administrators and faculty can embed it into the very fabric of their institutions.

For presidents, deans, program chairs, and faculty, this is both a call to action and a practical manual. Implementing leadership development isn’t just about improving student résumés—it’s about positioning community colleges as indispensable partners in workforce preparation and community vitality.

If your institution is searching for ways to improve retention, enhance workforce relevance, and equip students with the skills employers value most, this book offers the pragmatic path forward.