The Leadership Studies major at the University of Richmond is not your typical college major. No, it is not a study based on “How to Be a Leader 101,” it takes a more broad social science and humanities approach to studying leadership. This is what attracts students like Virginia Eta Laurel Wayne who are intrigued by how people interact and the way people work through a leadership lens.

Laurel originally came to college thinking she would be business or marketing major because she had a strong interest in the fashion industry. It was in her first-year calculus and economics general education courses when Laurel realized this was not the path for her. Her brain wanted to take a more humanized approach to her studies. Laurel decided to meet with her advisor. After that meeting, she realized she could study what interested her and still have a career in the fashion industry. So Laurel switched to focus on Leadership Studies.

Laurel utilized her new frame of thinking this past summer as an intern at Tri-Coastal Design, a design and manufacturing company. Although her classes in leadership are not teaching her how to design or be in sales, both major aspects of the company, Laurel was able to incorporate skills from classes into her internship. She noticed a lot of things day-to-day that pertained to the things she learned directly in leadership classes. One task was assessing the leadership structure of the company and how that affects the success of company.

It is encouraging to hear Laurel’s story and how she did not allow her academic studies to define the path she would take in order to work in an industry she is passionate about. Laurel developed her own approach and continues to gain the skills that will be beneficial in any position she chooses in the future.