Conceptualizing Justice and Social Institutions Through a Systems Lens: Equipping Leaders for Change

December 3, 2025

Amy Westgate | 2023

Abstract

How do we prepare young leaders to face extraordinary challenges and radical uncertainties in a world where change seems like the only constant? What experiences and skills will equip them to understand what’s happening around them and respond to society’s complex and intractable problems? Conceptualizing Justice and Social Institutions Through a Systems Lens: Equipping Leaders for Change, a hybrid training program with wide application at the undergraduate and graduate levels, provides students with the necessary tools for becoming active change agents in global justice.

Grounded in systems thinking and system dynamics, Conceptualizing Justice and Social Institutions Through a Systems Lens: Equipping Leaders for Change introduces and fosters relevant cognitive, interpersonal, and self-leadership skills necessary for surviving and thriving in the 21st century. The program guides students in examining and visualizing systems and their behavior. Looking at problems more thoroughly and appreciating the downstream consequences of decisions helps students consider and craft more effective interventions toward organizational and institutional change. By preparing participants for thoughtful engagement with organizations and institutions, Conceptualizing Justice and Social Institutions Through a Systems Lens: Equipping Leaders for Change empowers young leaders to create more just policies, processes, and practices. With an approach designed for students to thrive, young leaders can develop the capacity to build thriving systems for all.

Keywords: Systems Thinking, System Dynamics, Justice, Social Institutions, Higher Education

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