As the inaugural initiative within CISR’s new Global Impact Lab ecosystem, the Leadership Lab is a hub of interdisciplinary innovation where leadership research serves the global good.

The launch of the Leadership Lab in fall 2026 will formalize the longstanding relationship that CISR and COB have enjoyed over the years, creating new opportunities for COB faculty and students to positively impact communities across the world. Building on the College of Business’s expertise in delivering management and leadership training to global entities—including to many of CISR’s partners across regions and industries—the Leadership Lab will expand this collaboration into a sustained program that supports JMU’s vision to be “the preferred partner” for research, outreach, and employment.

The lab’s initial project is Support for the Regional Explosive Hazards Training Center in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, where College of Business faculty have guided a key civilian security agency in earning ISO accreditation and are now crafting a strategic plan for the agency to become a regional center of excellence. With the Center’s newly enhanced training capacity, societies across Central Asia will be better equipped to address the ongoing threats of landmines and explosive ordnance to their civilian populations. This project is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

Our next project, in partnership with JMU's Division of Philanthropy & Engagement, will explore how philanthropy links transformative student experiences to global impact.