This qualitative ethnographic narrative inquiry explored the role of identity and the retention of Mexican American students in higher education. Leadership identity, a dimension of identity, was explored using narratives provided by 13 Mexican American students, attending a university in the northwest United States. Interview data was compiled, analyzed and summarized. From these summaries, conclusions about leadership role and its impact on retention and graduation of Mexican American students were derived. Study participants shared narratives describing challenges to their retention and graduation, as well as reasons why they decided to separate from the university. The study uncovered unresolved conflicts dealing with poor advising, poor communication with professors and significant others, personal "balance," and over involvement in student clubs/organizations impacted the graduation rates of student leaders. Overall, the study found leadership participation does have a positive impact on overall retention of students past the four-year traditional time period allotted for an undergraduate degree and, when unresolved conflicts are controlled for, graduation among student leaders is significantly improved. The results of this study provide an in-depth narration of individual Mexican American student accounts in their matriculation at the study university and the impact their participation in student clubs/organizations had. This student perspective is often inadequately represented in the quantitative and some qualitative studies exploring leadership and identity. Based on the findings, recommendations are made for students, student clubs/organizations, and university leaders to help improve conditions at institutions serving Mexican American students. [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.]