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Marian student leaders

Marian Leadership Initiative

How to become a Marian Leadership Initiative Scholar

Step One: Admission to Marian University: Be admitted by November 15th, of your senior year in high school. Step Two: Apply to the program

Our mission

Empowering transformational leaders who are trustworthy, healthy, inquisitive, and skilled rooted in our Franciscan values and equipped to inspire, elevate, and lead with purpose at Marian and beyond.

About the program

The Marian Leadership Initiative (MLI) is a comprehensive leadership education program designed to equip Marian University students with meaningful experiences, knowledge, and opportunities to become influential leaders in their communities and professions. Grounded in Marian’s Catholic Franciscan identity, MLI emphasizes servant leadership, ethical decision-making, and personal formation rooted in the values of service, compassion, and respect for others.

Through a combination of academic enrichment, leadership development, mentorship, and service-based learning, MLI prepares students to excel in their studies while developing the skills and character needed to lead with purpose—both during their time at Marian University and beyond.

Marian students studying

The framework for the Marian Leadership Initiative includes four (4) distinct pillars:

TRUSTWORTHY

Practicing Franciscan Values and possessing a deep understanding of their ethical implications.

HEALTHY

Experiencing the practice of self-awareness and self-care focused on their physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

INQUISITIVE

Demonstrating the ability to solve problems in an inquisitive, thoughtful, creative, and informed manner, along with exhibiting a high degree of proficiency in their disciplinary area and in their application of their learn expertise.

SKILLED

Applying exceptional listening, writing, reading, critical thinking, problem solving, and conflict resolution skills to build and sustain relationships within college and beyond.

What to Expect

  • Leadership courses
  • Community engagement
  • Speaker series workshops
  • Senior Take Action Project: All MLI Scholars will complete a capstone project in their area of study that exemplifies their leadership skills.

Marian Leadership Initiative Scholars

The Marian Leadership Initiative Scholars Program provides transformative financial support to students who demonstrate academic promise, a commitment to servant leadership, and a passion for community engagement grounded in Marian values.

MLI scholars receive:

  • Scholarship support toward tuition and educational expenses
  • Personalized mentorship and leadership guidance
  • Leadership workshops and professional development opportunities
  • Experiential learning and service-focused engagement

By reducing financial barriers, the MLI Scholars Program allows students to focus on academic success, deepen their commitment to service, and build leadership capacity that extends into their careers and communities. These scholarships are designed not only to fund education, but to invest in future leaders who will lead with integrity, compassion, and impact.

Contact

Marisa Zombrano
Marisa Zambrano

Executive Director, Marian Leadership Initiative

317.955.6356 or mzambrano@marian.edu

Sergio Palacio OrnelasSergio Palacio Ornelas, Bilingual Coordinator, spalacioornelas@marian.edu

Firany BricenoFirany Briceno, Pathways to Careers Coordinator, fbriceno@marian.edu 

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