Intercultural Leadership and Institutional Readiness: Perspectives from Administrators Driving Global Engagement Initiatives in Midwestern Universities

This literature review synthesizes research on the correlation between intercultural leadership and institutional readiness in enhancing global engagement, with a particular focus on Midwestern colleges in the United States. Drawing on twenty-six scholarly and professional sources, it investigates how leadership vision, organizational structures, pedagogy, and campus culture influence the depth and sustainability of internationalization. The assessment highlights intercultural leadership as the primary driver for preparation, the alignment of institutional priorities, resource allocation, and inclusive behaviors. Structural preparation, as demonstrated by solid finance, governance structures, and professional development, helps to put this leadership vision into action. Pedagogical innovations, such as Internationalization at Home and Virtual Exchange, show how intercultural learning can be scaled without relying heavily on student mobility. The literature also highlights the Midwest's unique situation, where budgetary constraints and local missions necessitate adaptable tactics for global engagement. Despite significant conceptual progress, empirical research is still scarce, particularly in longitudinal and region-specific analyses that link leadership behavior to observable institutional effects. The assessment concluded that preparedness is both a consequence and a capacity, indicating how well institutions combine leadership, policy, pedagogy, and culture into cohesive systems that promote equitable global learning.