CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — Lessons in leadership often come from unexpected places, and this semester, Austin Peay State University students are learning them in a galaxy far, far away.
One of the Honors College’s newest courses takes a deep dive into leadership theories and ethics through the lens of the Star Wars saga, from Emperor Palpatine’s strategic maneuvers to Princess Leia Organa’s courage and advocacy. Dr. Rich Mifsud and Professor Gina Nigro serve as co-instructors for the class, which will return in Spring 2027.
“From my perspective, it’s about understanding the different forms of leadership,” said Mifsud, director of APSU’s Institute for National Security and Military Studies. “One way is not the be-all way. Leadership is like a toolbox filled with different traits, and it’s important to know when to use them because every person you’re talking to is their own human being.”
Dr. Rich Mifsud delivers a lecture to students in the Honors College’s Star Wars course. He also guides class discussions, while Nigro leads the research and writing portions. | Photo by Alia Chapman
Mifsud developed the framework for the course based on a leadership class he taught in El Dorado County, California, and Nigro identified which leadership styles to cover after watching the Star Wars franchise with a fresh perspective.
Whether they are exploring Anakin Skywalker’s transformation into Darth Vader or tracing the fall of the Galactic Republic, applying those concepts to Star Wars is helping students connect with the material on a more personal level.
“Before this semester, I didn’t know about different leadership styles like transformational or autocratic, and I wasn’t really interested in learning about them,” freshman computer science major Keshaun Floyd said. “But seeing how leadership works inside Star Wars has made me want to know more.”
The course also gives students the opportunity to put what they learn into practice through argumentative research papers and presentations.
“In general, we’re teaching our students to think critically and start questioning leadership,” said Nigro, Honors College librarian. “Our students are all freshmen, but they’re learning a lot about academic writing and how to synthesize their research … I’ve seen a lot of growth in each of them, and it’s been a joy being around the Honors students.”
For freshman biology major Tayler Williams, public speaking and research have become pathways to personal improvement.
“Being comfortable with being uncomfortable is something I think is really important to take away from this class,” Williams said. “A lot of career opportunities involve stepping out of your comfort zone, and you need to be able to do that so you can grow from those experiences.”
That lesson goes hand in hand with the other learning opportunities the Honors College offers high-achieving students.
“I’m in the President’s Emerging Leaders Program, so a lot of my curriculum is based around leadership,” freshman early childhood education major Isabella Hipshire said. “By watching these movies, you can see these leadership scenarios play out in front of you instead of trying to understand them verbally, and I think that’s very helpful. [In Star Wars] there are strong leaders, but there’s also a lot of arrogance shown, and great examples of what not to do.”
In addition to learning about how different characters from Star Wars make leadership decisions, students are discovering how the franchise’s narrative echoes real-world military conflicts. | Photo by Alia Chapman
The Star Wars franchise’s relatable characters also make it easy for students to see parts of themselves in the story. Freshman sports communication major AJ Molloy said that has helped him identify his own strengths and weaknesses.
“We’ve been talking about how Anakin is an emotional leader who prioritizes taking care of people, and that’s what I like to do,” said Molloy, who plans to become a coach after graduating. “But I’ve also been able to look at times when things went wrong with his emotional decision-making and realize, ‘that’s something I’d probably do, so I might want to adjust if something like that happens.’”
Regardless of their individual leadership styles, Mifsud and Nigro are confident that their Padawans have what it takes to be the next generation of Jedi Masters.
“Everyone in this class has leadership potential — it’s just a matter of feeling comfortable and capable,” Mifsud said. “Whatever we’re working on always ties back to that, because ultimately this class is about writing and understanding leadership.”
