is an organization dedicated to creating a just, caring and thriving world where all lead with integrity and a healthy disregard for the impossible. LeaderShape works to do this by having conversations that matter.

The LeaderShape Institute has existed for more than 30 years. The Institute challenges students to lead with integrity while working towards a vision grounded in their deepest values. Participants explore��not only what they want to do, but who they want to be. Dynamic, challenging, and exciting, the six-day experience is intended to produce a breakthrough in the leadership capacity of participants—benefiting them individually, as well as their respective communities and the organizations they will go on to lead and serve in the future.

LeaderShape and the Center for Leadership will partner to host the first session of its Institute between the Winter Term and Spring Semester, from��Jan. 25 to 30.

Students will receive valuable leadership development that will benefit them during their time at ������Ƶ and beyond. Fifty students will have an opportunity to develop and implement a personal vision project intended to benefit a student organization, ������Ƶ’s campus, or a wider community. LeaderShape is a great opportunity for students to interact with each other, but also be supported and mentored by ������Ƶ faculty and staff members throughout the week.

Juniors Jack Taylor and Chandler Vaughan, both experienced LeaderShape this past summer. “LeaderShape was an amazing opportunity for my leadership development, as it taught me many new skills and further elaborated on areas I have learned on before,” Taylor said. “I was able to gain new perspectives from my fellow participants and the amazing staff, while being inspired to live in a world of possibility every day onward. I cannot wait to take what I learned from LeaderShape and apply it back to my everyday life at ������Ƶ.”

LeaderShape was an amazing opportunity for my leadership development, as it taught me many new skills and further elaborated on areas I have learned on before.
– Jack Taylor ’21

Chandler Vaughan shared the biggest take away she gained from her LeaderShape Institute experience:

If you would like to nominate a student to participate in LeaderShape, please email Dana Pursley. Click here for more information and complete to complete the LeaderShape application.

Only 50 students will be selected for this unique experience. Applications are due Friday, Nov. 22.

The Class of 2019��Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows,��united by their common interest in leadership, made an impact at ������Ƶ and are continuing to do so as ������Ƶ alumni.

These students graduated with degrees in 19 areas, including cinema and television arts, international studies, policy studies, political science and psychology. In addition to their rigorous majors, all 25 students completed a minor in��leadership studies.��

The Fellows are now beginning their careers with a variety of organizations, including Goldman Sachs, NBC, Deloitte, Wayfair and the Atlanta Braves.

At the same time, several other Fellows are continuing their higher education.��Eric Cunningham, David Duncan and Walker Helms have recently begun studying law at ������Ƶ, Duke and Wake Forest, respectively. Katie Mars is pursuing a master’s degree in international development studies at the University College Dublin.

The Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows program is a nationally recognized leadership development program designed to strengthen students’ leadership skills and abilities to impact themselves, their communities and their worlds. The four-year cohort experience builds a strong sense of community among the group and allows students to develop close mentoring relationships with faculty and staff. The Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows program was founded by former Mayor of Raleigh in 1989.

Upon graduation in May, the Class of 2019 Leadership Fellows were bestowed their Fellows medallions. Students reflected on their leadership journey, the program’s impact on their ������Ƶ experience and the road ahead.

“The Leadership Fellows program gave me a great start to my college career,” said Maya Eaglin ’19. “It provided me with a peer group and social group that helped me acclimate to the ������Ƶ environment. I’ve always felt like I was a natural-born leader, and the Leadership Fellows program helped me realize that truth. Through the program, I learned more about myself and friendships.”

Eaglin also reflected on the support from others, saying, “Fellows connected me with staff members and other resources that helped build my reputation at ������Ƶ as well. I would recommend this program for someone who is looking to explore more about their own capabilities, and to be pushed outside of their comfort zone.”

Susan Derasmo ’20, student director of the Leadership Fellows program, spoke about her experience working with the most recent Fellows class, saying, “It gets harder every year to watch senior Fellows prepare for graduation and start their next chapter. I have been able to watch this group grow, lead and fuel their passions, and it is inspiring and empowering. Their mentorship and leadership has impacted so many of us, and I know they will continue to do amazing things in whatever they do, wherever they end up from here.”

During their four-year leadership journey, the Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows:

• Engaged in an early orientation experience, an off-campus leadership retreat, and ������Ƶ 101 courses together during their first year;
• Benefited from mentorship, both as mentors and mentees, throughout their college experience;
• Participated in classes, such as Foundations of Leadership and Ethical Practice, as part of the Leadership Studies minor;
• Traveled to Selma, Birmingham and Montgomery, Alabama, and Atlanta, Georgia, as part of the Disarming Injustice: Non-violence in the Civil Rights Movement sophomore Winter Term course;
• Engaged in Study Abroad/Study USA through support of a $1,000 ������Ƶ Experiences grant; and
• Completed a common good project and presented at the first-ever ������ƵEx: Experiential Learning Presentation

Are you a member of the��Leadership Fellows alumni? Share updates with the Center for Leadership ��staff to help us continue to connect with you.

Congratulations to the Class of 2019 Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows Alumni!
Bridgette Agbozo
Reny Barrett
Hannah Benson
Jason Brunette
Josh Cadorette
Joyce Choi
Caroline Cirby
Eric Cunningham
Lilly DeNunzio
David Duncan
Maya Eaglin
Audrey Funk
Sam Glicker
Emily Golden
Walker Helms
Graham Kulig
Alexis Mahshigian
Katie Mars
Tres McMichael
Emma Ott
Leah Vail
Ryan Wells

While more transgender students, faculty and staff have come out on U.S. college campuses today than ever before, many still report enduring harassment and discrimination. Others avoid disclosing their gender identity because they do not feel safe or comfortable at their schools. Beemyn brings together personal narratives and original research to give readers both individual and large-scale perspectives, which provide unprecedented insight into the experiences of transgender people in higher education. These contributions reveal that despite an improving environment, transgender people continue to face widespread interpersonal and institutional opposition on campuses across the country.

Some of the first published research focusing on nonbinary transgender undergraduates and transgender graduate students is included, in addition to the most comprehensive research to date of trans students at women’s colleges and of trans academics. "Trans People in Higher Education" also examines the sexual health of transgender students, the treatment of transgender people by individuals with institutional authority, and the strategies and lessons learned from one college that successfully became more transgender inclusive.

Bosch and Pursley’s chapter, “Rising like a Phoenix: One Institution’s Journey through Trans and LGBTQIA Inclusion” follows the journey of ������Ƶ through multiple stages of inclusion, citing examples where LGBTQIA and specifically trans-identified students, faculty, staff and alumni benefitted from these growing inclusion efforts. Their chapter details the collaborative partnerships, leadership across the university, institutional strategic planning, and resources dedicated to improving services and programs for LGBTQIA students, serving as a model for other colleges, particularly other private and Southern colleges.

������Ƶ’s Hazing Prevention Coalition has organized activities and events to bring attention to the problem of hazing. These events provide the opportunity to educate students, parents, faculty, staff, coaches, advisors and community members to recognize hazing and learn how to prevent it before it occurs. These events include:

– Tri-Sigma Moseley Table – Tuesday, Sept. 20, 9:40-10:20 a.m. (Phi Beta Kappa Plaza)
– Positive Practices for Teambuilding – Lunch and Lead workshop for student organization advisors – Tuesday, Sept. 20, 12:30-1:30 p.m. (Moseley 217) Click here to RSVP.

������Ƶ’s Hazing Prevention Coalition is a group of Student Life staff and students who work to identify common hazing practices and types of groups with a prevalent history of hazing, develop short- and long-term hazing prevention strategies, develop ways to communicate and educate the campus on issues of hazing, and explore alternative ways to bond students to their clubs and organizations. The Hazing Prevention Coalition is chaired by Jodean Schmiederer; the coalition also includes Dana Pursley, Jenny Ciesiulka, Jordan King, Larry Mellinger, Kate Upton, Rex Waters and Randall Williams.

The ultimate goal of NHPW and the Hazing Coalition is to prevent hazing through strong educational efforts, diligent policy development and reinforcement, and comprehensive planning and ongoing community efforts. For more information please go to . To report an incident of hazing, or call ������Ƶ’s Hazing Hotline 336.278.HAZE (4293).

The LEAD Program is a three-tiered, self-paced leadership and education development program open to all students. LEAD is comprised of interactive retreats, off-campus retreats, faculty/staff mentorship, service learning and critical reflection.

Each tier of the program enables students to think critically and reflectively about themselves and the impact they have on their community. Tier I, “Leading the Self,” explores personal foundations of leadership and establishing one’s self as an authentic leader. Tier II, “Leading with Others,” focuses on civic responsibility, group dynamics and cultural awareness and appreciation. Finally, Tier III, “Leading for Change,” is a culmination of a student’s leadership experience through immersion in positive, social change.

The LEAD Opening Ceremonies event is an annual tradition for new and current students to learn about the program and gain inspiration for the year ahead. Dana Carnes, interim director of the Center for Leadership discussed the importance of gaining leadership skills and the impact that LEAD is having at ������Ƶ. Carnes shared, “over 400 ������Ƶ students are actively participating, making it the largest leadership opportunity on campus. It gives you an opportunity to interact and learn from like-minded students who are genuinely interested in bettering themselves and their communities.”

Tyson Glover ’17, a member of Tier III, spoke about the importance of saying “yes.” Glover articulated the power of embracing unknown challenges and the benefits of stepping out of one’s comfort zone.

Following Glover, Dooley gave a powerful oration offering students with five essential pieces of advice to guide them through their leadership journeys. Dooley challenged students to do something out of the ordinary, find a space for regular reflection, spend time with people different from themselves, engage more deeply with service, and to be mindful of the needs of the world. Dooley’s address provided students with indispensable advice that will guide them successfully through both their leadership journeys and their collegiate careers.

Following the speakers, participants broke out into their respective Tier groups to learn more about the components of the program and upcoming events.

Students interested in joining the LEAD Program , visit the Center for Leadership, or email lead@elon.edu.  

The Intersect Conference provides attendees with an unprecedented look at the disciplines of diversity, leadership, and the cross-sections of the two. The conference focuses on four pillars—oppression, social change, power and privilege, and organizational development.

The Intersect Cnference Planning Committee is currently accepting proposals for educational sessions. The goal of each session is to inspire attendees to engage in meaningful, yet difficult conversations in order to create change. If you are interested in sharing your passion, knowledge, and expertise iby presenting an interactive educational session, consider . 

The conference is free for ������Ƶ students, faculty, and staff and $50 for attendees from other colleges and universities. Registration closes on Friday, Oct. 21.

For more information, visit Intersect’s website, or email intersect@elon.edu.

Two cohorts that included 61 students traveled to West Virginia to take part in this ������Ƶ First-Year Summer Experience, . The six-day Adventures in Leadership program is sponsored by Campus Recreation and the Center for Leadership and was offered twice in July — July 10-15 and then July 17-22.

Adventures in Leadership provides outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, rock climbing and white-water rafting. Through the experiences, students develop leadership skills as they work together in teams to better understand themselves and transition to ������Ƶ.

The adventure-based learning program begins on ������Ƶ’s campus. After spending a night at ������Ƶ and discussing leadership and communication skills, participants engage in the ������Ƶ Challenge Course before traveling to Minden, West Virginia. There, students went rock climbing, hiking, whitewater rafting and even worked collaboratively to cook a meal over a campfire.

“I never thought I could change my perspective on college, create forever lasting bonds, feel more prepared for college than ever and have an unbelievable experience all in six days,” said participant Anna Holt.

After three and a half days in West Virginia, the last day of the program was spent at ������Ƶ where participants enjoyed a brunch and reflect on the week’s experiences.

Though the program lasted less than a week, the impact was enough to leave incoming first-years like Franky Storm with a lasting impression.

“Not only did AIL help me get acclimated to what the next four years will hold, it established friendships and gave me a taste of what the culture’s really like at ������Ƶ,” said Storm. “I can confidently say AIL was the best experience of my entire life and every incoming student should sign up.”

This year’s student facilitators, all AIL alumni, were Taylor Cassidy, Mikey Gibeley, Marley Goetz, Jack Hartmann, Hanna Kraus, Madi Norton, Lyn Nelson, and Alex Pfeiff. The student coordinator who supervised the participants and facilitators was Meredith Piatt. The faculty and staff advisors were Dana Carnes, Larry Mellinger, Evan Small, and Carol Smith.

For more information, please visit the .

AYLA is a three and a half day program for rising seventh grade students with the goal to empower participants through civic engagement and leadership development. Through the program, students practice teamwork, communication, utilizing resources, presentation skills, problem solving and develop core leadership skills. Through forming strength in those specific skills, students are able to identify and create improvement plans for their school. This year, 92 students participated in the summer program.

Students brainstormed possible changes that would improve their school environment, such as anti-bullying programs, campus beautification, and community service. At the end of the program, students have the opportunity to present their ideas to their family members and school administrators.

The AYLA program an aquatic theme as students learned about the FISH! Philosophy. Additionally, students participated in the ������Ƶ Challenge Course and practiced their public speaking. While the program focusing on developing vital skills, facilitators promote a fun, collaborative atmosphere.

Facilitators serve as both mentors and guides for students as they communicates and discover effective ways they can make a meaningful impact in their school community. This year half of the 17 facilitators were ������Ƶ students while the others included students from other universities and local high school students.

“This experience has been both rewarding and exhausting in the best way possible,” said facilitator Claudia Rodriguez ’17. “Being able to play a role in the future leadership of the kids in our community has been something I will treasure for a very long time.”

Devon Spieker ’18 served as the student coordinator this year. As a Leadership Fellow, he was introduced to the AYLA Program during his first year at ������Ƶ and said he was happy to have increased his involvement with the program.

“The growth you see in just three days is incredible,” said Speiker. “You see students go from complaining about their schools to forming plans to better their schools and presenting that plan to a room of 350 people.”

The room of 350 people was comprised of comprised of parents, family members, teachers, and community members in addition to school facilitators. Spieker said that he was impressed by the ideas that students were able to formulate.

“I don’t know what I was doing in seventh grade, but it wasn’t that,” he said.

The Center for Leadership began it’s parternship with Turrentine Middle School in 2001 with the goal to encourage youth community members to become leaders within their school communities. The program was able to expand in 2007 when the Center for Leadership partnered with the Alamance Chamber of Commerce.

Since the partnership, the amount of participating schools has increased each year, with 11 schools this year. This was the first year that all public schools in Alamance County have participated.

For more information, visit the and/or  websites.

By Melina Casados ’18

The annual event includes a plated dinner, keynote speakers and a discussion activity. The Student Organization Presidents’ Dinner celebrates student leadership and provides a platform to meet fellow leaders and engage in reflection and dialogue to prepare for the school year. The program is a result of preparation from Center for Leaderships Organization Development Directors Courtney Crowell ’16 and McKay Sutley ’17, CFL Senior Director Kate Sims ’16 and support from the Center for Leadership and the President’s Office staff.

The evening began with a welcome from Dana Carnes, associate director of the Center for Leadership. Carnes thanked the students for their service to the ������Ƶ community and encouraged them to connect with fellow leaders.

������Ƶ President Leo M. Lambert shared his thoughts on the importance of student leadership. He encouraged the students to be intentional about leadership transitions and inspire new members to make a difference. Lambert elaborated on the concept of servant leadership and non-positional leadership within student organizations. His words motivated and energized the room and left a lasting message of the impact of student leadership.

Avery Steadman ’16, SGA president, spoke candidly on her leadership journey. She openly admitted her lack of formal leadership knowledge, yet reflected on her experience with wisdom and genuine emotion. Steadman related leadership to elementary school line leaders and provided a relatable depiction of servant leadership.

“I think a student learns the most from being at the back of the line, where they are not being as closely watched by their teacher, when they learn the most about self-discipline and leading others,” Steadman said. “Behaving properly, and encouraging those around them to behave properly, is a sign of true leadership.” She related this to her own experience, asserting “my time at ������Ƶ as a leader began the moment I stepped on campus.”

Students and staff enjoyed a delicious plated dinner as staff and faculty facilitators led each table in a meaningful discussion on leadership and organization development. Organization presidents had the opportunity to share their challenges and provide feedback to help others overcome challenges. It was a collaborative process that generated powerful ideas.

After dinner, Crowell and Sutley shared information about the Center for Leadership’s resources for organizations. They invited students to reach out for help with brainstorming, team building activities, workshops, or programs tailored to specific organizations. Crowell and Sutley also shared information about upcoming Center for Leadership programs such as workshops for student leaders and LEADSTRONG week.

The event concluded with a reflection from Center for Leadership Graduate Assistant Elizabeth Beavers. The student leaders were left with thoughts about their impact on campus, resources for support and appreciation of their hard work.

to learn more about the Center for Leadership’s resources for Student Organization Development or email orgdevelopment@elon.edu.

������Ƶ’s Hazing Prevention Coalition has organized activities and events to bring attention to the problem of hazing. These events provide the opportunity to educate students, parents, faculty, staff, coaches, advisors, and community members to recognize hazing and learn how to prevent it before it occurs. These events include:
– Alpha Xi Delta Moseley Table – Monday, September 21st-Wedesday, September 23rd – 11am-2pm
– Tri-Sigma MoseleyTable – Monday, September 21st-Wedesday, September 23rd – 11am-2pm
– Hazing Coalition College Coffee Table – Tuesday, September 22nd – 9:40-10:20am
– Student Org Advisors Workshop on Hazing Prevention – Wednesday, September 23rd – 12:15-1:15pm in McKinnon D (please email Dana Carnes to RSVP)

������Ƶ’s Hazing Prevention Coalition is a group of Student Life staff and students who work to identify common hazing practices and types of groups with a prevalent history of hazing, develop short- and long-term hazing prevention strategies, develop ways to communicate and educate the campus on issues of hazing, and explore alternative ways to bond students to their clubs and organizations.

This summer, several members of the Hazing Prevention Coalition attended the Novak Institute for Hazing Prevention at the University of Memphis in Tennessee. The Novak Institute is a four day, interactive experience that teaches participants to address hazing from a strategic approach focusing on prevention rather than just response. Kim Novak, the name sake of the Institute, is a nationally recognized expert in risk management, engaging students in campus safety efforts, and hazing prevention.

The Institute’s curriculum uses a prevention framework based on proven principles grounded in research. The curriculum aims to help professionals and students take their findings back to their community to create and implement an interdisciplinary hazing prevention program designed for their campus.

The ultimate goal of NHPW and the Hazing Coalition is to prevent hazing through strong education efforts, diligent policy development and reinforcement, and comprehensive planning and ongoing community efforts. For more information please go to . To report an incident of hazing, or call ������Ƶ’s Hazing Hotline 336.278.HAZE (4293).