The Leadership Institute transitions to Purdue Northwest.

The former South Shore Leadership Center (SSLC) has a name change, new direction and renewed growth.

The legacy organization began in 1982 under the name Leadership Calumet. It was originally formed under a national model for community leadership programs and was originally funded by the Lilly Endowment and W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

January 1, 2019 brought much anticipated change as SSLC was reorganized and rebooted as The Leadership Institute at Purdue Northwest. On June 30, 2019, the former organization was dissolved, and the Leadership Institute officially became a center within Purdue Northwest.

This evolution from a non-profit organization to a university center has had immediate and positive impact on existing programs Leadership Northwest Indiana (LNI) and Student Leadership Youth Community Engagement (SLYCE). Changes include stronger programming and a more robust curriculum under the guidance of Leadership Institute Fellow Rachel Clapp-Smith, Ph.D., a renowned leadership professor in PNW’s College of Business.

These programs will continue to engage PNW professors, regional leaders and industry experts, even as additional programs and events will be added to our suite of community programs and services.

Following months of community-listening sessions, surveys and focus groups, the LNI program has been improved with a strong focus on practical leadership skill-building while maintaining the popular regional flair. Even our 1,400 LNI alumni will benefit from the new offerings, with the ability to LNI 2.0 at a special alumni rate while only committing half a day once a month.

The Leadership Institute has enjoyed a long and successful history because of the dedication of past leaders, board members and supporters, for which we are grateful. With a strong board and staff in place in 2019, we encourage you to stop in, visit our website or follow us on social media to learn more.