The Role of the Liberal Arts

Mastery of a range of academic disciplines not only lends crucial perspective to decision-making, but is the basis for skills fundamental to leadership.

Critical thinking, refined judgment, creative synthesis, and the willingness to collaborate are hallmarks of a liberal arts education, and cultivate habits of mind that will serve students well throughout their lives.

Wellesley's singular approach to the liberal arts promotes two sets of skills essential to our graduates' future success: effective communication and the deft management of “human systems.” Clear speaking and writing comes with the organized thinking required to persuasively represent and defend a point of view; and Wellesley women are celebrated for a rare kind of leadership, establishing a vision, creating consensus, and modeling cooperation. They are adept at negotiating intra-group interests with a sure touch, anticipating sticking points and navigating through them. In short, they have an ability to “get stuff done.”

These are all skills rooted in the liberal arts tradition. And these are the skills essential to effective leadership.