Supporting efforts to build efficacy in leadership capabilities and capacities is instrumental in the process of leadership development for education and leadership students. Research suggests that those individuals in their fields with a greater sense of efficacy tend to remain longer, with more success. While there has been much research to support the importance of efficacy and the positive benefits of study abroad experiences, this case study examines the self-described changes in participants’ perceptions of leadership styles at the completion of a study abroad program. A qualitative case study describes the changing perceptions using composite narrative, in effort to maintain the anonymity of the seven participants. The article reports the findings of seven interviews (six complete and one partial) with students who participated in the trip and corresponding coursework prior. It examines three aspects of leadership: changing perceptions of leadership, altering individual leadership styles, and improving confidence and competence in leadership abilities.

Leading as an academic department chair with an inclusive mindset requires making faculty, staff, and students feel heard, valued, and included in day-to-day departmental work in meaningful ways. Empirical research exploring the chair's role in improving the departmental climate is limited and narrow in scope. The current study consists of data collected from a survey and an asynchronous focus group of current chairs at a mid-sized university in East Texas. Questions in the survey included topics such as professional development training for department chairs, lack of time for scholarship, and outlining departmental priorities and goals. Questions in the asynchronous focus group included topics on strengths and challenges department chairs experienced in supporting diversity, inclusion, and equity goals for their departments. The results of the survey add to the call to provide department chairs with leadership training that equips them to become effective leaders who adapt their leadership style and behaviors to build the capacity to make excellence inclusive in their department.