This study examines the challenges facing undergraduate international students in an American higher education institution and how leadership skills and leadership development may assist these students with overcoming their challenges and achieving their goals. The challenges international students face may differ from domestic peers. These challenges could be linguistic, cultural, financial, emotional, social, and academic. Colleges and universities have created programs and activities to address these challenges for domestic students; however, few if any, have focused on student leadership as a way for international students to overcome their challenges. Although student leadership programs have been found to help domestic students overcome social and academic challenges, there is a lack of research focusing on using leadership as a factor that can help international students overcome challenges. Thus, this study will explore how leadership skills and leader developmental readiness (LDR) can be used as interventions to help undergraduate international students overcome their challenges and achieve their goals in US colleges and universities. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]