The RISE Model: A New Model Shaping College Student Leadership Learning - JCAPS Vol. 8 Issue 1

Effective student leadership development in higher education requires a strong theoretical foundation to cultivate competent, empathetic, and adaptive leaders. The newly developed RISE model—relationships, identity, skills, and efficacy—offers a structured, theory-based approach to leadership growth. The authors provide examples of the student-centered approach to developing the RISE model and how the leadership learning domains interact to create dynamic leadership growth. By prioritizing relationships, the model addresses gaps in empathy, inclusivity, and the ability to lead diverse teams. The authors argue that, by implementing the RISE model as a roadmap, student leadership development becomes a clearer, more impactful process, shifting leadership from an abstract concept to a structured, meaningful journey.