The LSP Story
About the Leland Scholars Program
From 2012 to 2024, the Leland Scholars Program (LSP) has been a fully-funded program for incoming Stanford students that began in the summer before their first year. The summer program included a carefully crafted schedule of activities, coursework, and seminars designed to facilitate the transition to Stanford. During the academic year, Leland Scholars have had access to additional advising and first-year seminars that sustain the community and reinforce the skills and strategies acquired during the program.
Now, building upon the achievements of LSP -- as well as the other Stanford summer programs: SSEA, SOAR, and THRIVE -- a single new bridge program is launching in the summer of 2025. This new consolidated program will expand and enrich the academic and advising engagements for participants so they are prepared to take full advantage of the academic opportunities Stanford has to offer, as well as strengthening the sense of community for incoming first-year students. These changes to Stanford’s bridge program honor the work we’ve done together and reflect the core values that have always guided LSP: a commitment to equity, a belief in the power of community, and an unwavering dedication to the success of every scholar. The new summer bridge experience will offer similar opportunities for scholars in 2025 and we are excited to continue collaborating with partners across campus to support our students. See summerbridge.stanford.edu for detaills.
History
In 2008, Stanford proposed the creation of a new summer transitional program for incoming first-year students, though due to economic challenges, the final implementation was delayed until 2011. The President’s Office approved funding for the Leland Scholars Program as an official Stanford Introductory Studies pilot initiative within the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education.
Chronology
LSP Founder/Director: Warren Chiang hired to create and implement LSP program.
LSP I- inaugural LSP class in 2012; 33 students
LSP II- Second cohort enters in summer 2013; 40 students
LSP III- Third cohort enters in summer of 2014; 42 students
LSP IV- Fourth cohort enters in summer of 2015; 45 students. Lourdes Andrade assumes Director position after Warren is promoted to Director of Residential Programs.
LSP V - Fifth cohort enters in summer of 2016; 60 students
LSP VI- Sixth cohort begins with 60 students in summer 2017; additional 37 students join cohort through LSP fall and winter seminar course (97 students)
LSP VII- Seventh cohort begins with 60 students in summer 2018; additional 42 students join cohort through LSP fall and winter seminar course (102 students). Brandi Pretlow assumes Director position after Lourdes joins School of Engineering as new Director of Diversity and Inclusion.
LSP VIII- Eighth cohort begins with 60 students in summer 2019; additional 50 students join cohort through LSP fall and winter seminar courses (110 students). Joy Robinson assumes Program Administrator position and Warren is promoted to Associate Dean and Senior Director of First Year Experience, Academic Advising.
LSP IX- Ninth cohort begins virtually with 75 students in summer 2020; additional 26 students join cohort through LSP fall and winter seminar courses (101 students). Joy Robinson assumes Program Manager position.
LSP X- Tenth cohort begins with 60 students in summer 2021; additional 60 students join cohort through LSP fall and winter seminar courses (120 students). Cecilia Martinez assumes Assistant Director position.
LSP XI- Eleventh cohort begins in summer 2022 with 90 students in the residential program and 14 students in the virtual program. Susie Morales assumes Program Manager position after Joy departs.
LSP XII- Twelfth cohort begins in summer 2023 with 80 students in the residential program and 23 students in the virtual program. Bethlehem "Betty" Aynalem assumes the Director position after Brandi departs. Kylee Beck assumes Program Manager position after Susie is promoted to Assistant Director for the Stanford Summer Fellows Program.
LSP XIII- Thirteenth cohort begins in summer 2024 with 80 students in the residential program.