SMWC students Sherry Bube, Nashville, Ind. (l)
and Cathleen Flynn, Mitchell, South Dakota participate
in last year’s leadership summit.
Conflict resolution, group dynamics and networking tactics are just a few of the topics covered at the annual student leadership summit at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College on November 17, 2012. Sponsored by the student senate, the summit aims to engage students around one common purpose: “Leaders Bound Together: Building Relationships That Nurture Leadership.” At this day-long summit, proven leadership concepts will help participants expand their view of leadership and gain valuable leadership skills.
According to Stephanie Runyon, student senate president, leadership is at the core of the mission of the student senate. “This leadership summit will provide an opportunity for all students to explore and develop their leadership potential,” explained Runyon, a senior from Noblesville, Ind. “We already have strong leaders on campus, but some students do not realize that they have leadership qualities. They will learn to identify and hone them. Students who already exhibit strong leadership qualities will learn to enhance their skills.”
Elizabeth Jeffries, author, executive coach, professional speaker and 1984 graduate of SMWC, will deliver the keynote address. Jeffries has addressed more than one million people in more than 4,000 presentations to nearly 500 different organizations and has coached numerous executives and managers one-on-one. She challenges people to live and lead from the inside out, and her cornerstone topics are servant leadership, team alignment and relationship strategies.
Jeffries is the author of two books, including “The Heart of Leadership: How to Inspire, Encourage and Motivate People to Follow You”; and a best-selling CD, “From the Inside Out,” an inspirational poem with original music. Jeffries is contributing author to “Insights on Leadership.”
Additionally, a diverse group of SMWC alumni will round out the day with sessions and panels designed to strengthen leadership skills and teach methods for improving as a student leader.
These executives include:
- Molly Ellsworth ’92, Parish Business Manager, St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church and President of the SMWC National Alumni Board
- Michelle Itczak, an Adjunct Faculty Member of the SMWC Master of Art in Art Therapy Program and Herron School of Art and Design
- Susan Gresham ’79, Director of the Career Development Center, SMWC
- Judy Hund ’87, Clinical Operations Manager, Oncology Business Unit, Eli Lilly
- Amanda Moore ’12G, SMWC Master of Leadership Development Graduate
- April Simma ’02, Director of Planned Gifts, SMWC
“We anticipate that this year’s leadership summit to be the foundation of more leadership initiatives in the future,” Runyon added.