The Bonner Leaders Program

A four-year cohort model that provides a diverse group of students the opportunity to work in the community-building capacity of community-based organizations while growing students’ civic leadership.

What is the Bonner Leaders Program?

The University of Mississippi’s Bonner Leaders Program began in August 2021, with the first cohort from the class of 2025 undertaking high-commitment, paid internships at community partner sites. These internships allow students to explore and address social and environmental issues in the local area, enriching their understanding of the challenges facing Oxford and the broader community.

The Bonner Leaders Program at the University of Mississippi connects students with a dynamic, nationally recognized network of over 70 colleges and universities, following the model established by the Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundation.

As Bonner students, participants engage in a unique program that emphasizes “Bonner Love,” uniting them with peers from institutions across the country.

A Three-Part Support System

Students in the Bonner Leaders Program benefit from a comprehensive support structure that includes:

Deep Partnerships with Community Organizations: Collaborating with local nonprofits and agencies across the Oxford and Lafayette-Oxford University region.
Solidarity Among Bonner Students: Developing a strong, supportive community through peer connections and team-building activities.
Mentorship from Center for Community Engagement (CCE) Staff: Receiving guidance and support to help navigate their personal, academic, and civic growth.

Meet one of our Bonner Leaders

Alyssa Sheppard

What was your favorite project you worked on in the community?

See Alyssa’s Answer

Program Features

Learn more about the Bonner Leaders Program below.

A key feature of the UM Bonner Leaders experience is the community internship, where Bonners are placed at local nonprofits and organizations to gain first-hand experience in addressing community challenges and opportunities.

Bonner Leaders learn how to work with instead of helping community partners during their internship experiences.

Our community partners are experts in their respective areas of community engagement, with many of them have been in their roles for years.

Each semester, Bonners participate in one-hour credit leadership courses that foster their leadership and development through a community-focused lens.

Classes are designed with a service-learning model, where students learn about societal challenges in class to then address those challenges in their internship sites. We follow the Social Change Model of Student Leadership Development as our theoretical framework for these courses.
Our Community Engaged Leadership (CEL) courses are additionally beneficial for Bonner Leaders who chose to earn a minor in Community Engaged Leadership, also offered through our Center. Each Bonner CEL course satisfies credits for this interdisciplinary minor, which can provide Bonner students an additional benefit of applying their Bonner leadership skills and academic credits.

As a cohort, these students will participate in training sessions that support skill-building in the nonprofit and public sectors, deepen their knowledge of the social and environmental issues facing Oxford and the Lafayette-Oxford University region and join a supportive community of peers through team building and community formation activities.

The program aims to foster civic leadership by providing financial support to students, many of whom come from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds.

This financial assistance allows students to focus on community work while developing skills, values, and knowledge that will support their future careers.