BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees recently approved the creation of a new School of Leadership and Policy at UA, a move officials say will expand the university’s role in preparing future civic leaders and policymakers.
The school will offer a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy and Master of Public Policy, beginning in fall 2027, with plans to add more degrees and certificates in the future.
UA President Peter Mohler said the new school, which he called “the first of its kind in our state and among only a few nationwide,” will emphasize ethical leadership, innovation and evidence-based policymaking.
“By cultivating leadership talent and policy expertise, the School of Leadership and Policy will serve as a catalyst for developing the next generation of changemakers – those who will lead Alabama and the nation toward a prosperous and resilient future,” he said.
In a video shown during a recent board of trustees meeting, U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, a 2004 UA graduate, said the new program is a “bold step” to help young leaders become “future policymakers and public servants.”
Britt credited UA with forging her path to the U.S. Senate.
“My time at the university sparked a passion to serve, and it gave me a foundation for success that has taken me all the way to the United States Senate,” she said.
System Chancellor Sid Trant said the new school will play a key role in shaping future leaders.
“Through rigorous interdisciplinary studies rooted in the foundational principles of American democracy, The University of Alabama’s School of Leadership and Policy will educate and empower our students to become effective and principled leaders equipped to improve lives across Alabama and beyond,” Trant said.
It will be housed in Farrah Hall, which Moehler said will be renovated to “create a dynamic space for students, faculty, staff and industry leaders, including our federal and state partners to gather and exchange ideas.”
Proposed plans include internships, policy labs and community-based projects with public and private institutions to give students hands-on experience solving complex policy issues.
Students will study the foundational principles of American institutions and explore multiple viewpoints, university officials said, with an emphasis on preparing graduates to contribute to Alabama’s social, economic and civic well-being.
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