This report concerns a qualitative study on African-American leadership effectiveness as perceived and defined by African-American student leaders at the University of New Mexico (Albuquerque). Six African-American student leaders (three males and three females) participated in-depth interviews. The interviews were audiorecorded and transcribed. The transcribed documents were analyzed to determine the themes from students' responses on the question of leadership effectiveness. The study did not evaluate leadership capabilities and qualities of students. The study's major objective was the creation of at least one hypothesis based on a theory of leadership grounded in the data. The students provided definitions of leadership in terms of: (1) goals of leadership; (2) charismatic leadership; (3) style of leadership; (4) dynamics of diplomacy, creativity, and communication; and (5) leader behavior. Participants also provided their views on the internal dynamics of organizational change and its relationship to leadership. Overall, many of the participants felt that African-American student leaders face a peculiar challenge due in some measure to the underrepresentation of their group. Based on interview comments, the following hypothesis emerged: students with leadership experience before coming to college are more likely to become leaders in college when they perceive that there is a vacuum or lack of leadership in an organization where they happen to be. (Contains 41 references.) (GLR)