The National Center for Infrastructure Transformation (NCIT) is a consortium of universities, led by Prairie View A&M University, with partners including Arizona State University, Blinn Community College, Michigan State University, Rutgers University, and Texas A&M University. Together, these institutions aim to enhance the durability and longevity of U.S. transportation infrastructure.
One of the key initiatives under the NCIT is the Leadership through Mentoring program, which is open to selected graduate and undergraduate students participating in NCIT research at each university. This program provides an opportunity for students to broaden their understanding of leadership beyond traditional hierarchical roles. The goal is to equip participants with the skills to view leadership as a social, collaborative process, essential in the transportation industry. As professionals in this field often engage in complex projects—such as addressing regional demands, mitigating climate change impacts, or rectifying transportation systems that have negatively affected historically marginalized communities—broad leadership competencies are vital.
Graduate and undergraduate students apply together for this semester-long mentorship, and those selected receive a $2,500 stipend for their participation. Both graduate and undergraduate students benefit from this stipend, which supports their involvement in the program. The program’s structure emphasizes shared leadership, which is distinct from the typical top-down leadership approach and is designed to prepare students for dynamic leadership roles in their future careers.
Each university in the NCIT consortium has a mentorship coordinator who supports the mentor-mentee pairs. Additionally, all participants—both mentors and mentees—engage in an online leadership course developed specifically for the NCIT by Jennifer L. S. Chandler from Arizona State University. This course aims to enhance participants’ leadership knowledge and competencies.
At the conclusion of the program, participants have the opportunity to complete an assessment of their leadership development. Those who consent allow their data to contribute to the ongoing research on leadership skills development through mentoring, led by Jennifer L. S. Chandler. This research provides insights into how mentoring experiences contribute to leadership growth, a crucial element in addressing the challenges of the transportation industry.
