College of Education and Human Development

Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development

World-wide influence. Collaborative impact.

Our world is full of systems and policies that affect how individuals learn, grow and relate to one another. Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD) studies how those systems and policies are shaped by culture and power. We prepare leaders and researchers to transform our education and organizations for the better.

We teach our students how to design, test, implement, and revise our institutional strategies in both the public and private sectors, from the international to the local level. Our students gain practical experiences in creating approaches to increase social and economic development, foster human flourishing, disrupt power structures, and promote a more just society.

Recent articles

Forthcoming book from Darrius A. Stanley

Darrius A. Stanley's book #BlackEducatorsMatter: The Experiences of Black Teachers in an Anti-Black World, will be published in February and is available for pre-order now with the Harvard Education Press.

Kyla Wahlstrom receives U’s highest honor

On October 10, Kyla Wahlstrom, Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD), was recognized with the U’s highest honor, the Outstanding Achievement Award, at an event with family and friends.

kyla greeted by colleague at award ceremony

OLPD PhD student receives 2023-24 DePodesta Fellowship

Enet Mukurazita, PhD student in the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development’s (OLPD) Comparative and International Development Education (CIDE) program was awarded the full-year DePodesta Fellowship for 2023-24.

enet mukurazita headshot

Upcoming events

86% of employers


identify “ability to work in a team” as a top attribute they seek in new hires.

Source: Job Outlook 2020, National Association of Colleges and Employers

Undergraduate programs

Business and marketing education

Learn a broad set of skills to prepare for a variety of careers, from positions in Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurial startups, and international organizations to nonprofit management.

Human resource development

Gain the skills you need to offer workplace training and contribute to organizational development in a variety of public and private organizations.

Graduate program tracks

Education policy and leadership

Work to continuously improve educational quality and effectiveness so that young people graduate from secondary education well-prepared to continue their learning and contribute to their communities.

Evaluation studies

earn what works. Study evaluation theory and practice and inform the decision-making process in a variety of fields.

Higher education

Investigate the experiences, practices and decisions of those involved in post-secondary educations as well as the socio-political contexts in which higher education exists.

Human resource development

Study the ways in which people find meaning and thrive in their workplaces, and cultivate the conditions that empower people to be the best versions of themselves at work.

Contact information

For general questions about our department, contact:

Undergraduate studies
612-624-3640
ugolpd@umn.edu

Graduate studies
612-626-9377
olpd@umn.edu

Main office
612-624-1006