Prospective University and community leaders will have the opportunity to learn from local and national mentors this summer.
This May, roughly 60 LSU students will participate for the first time in LeaderShape, a nationwide leadership institute.
According to its Web site, LeaderShape was originally developed by Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity in 1986 “as a means of improving campus leadership.”
K.C. White, associate dean in the Office of the Dean of Students, said any student is eligible to apply and more than 60 applications already have been received.
“This is one program where everyone is encouraged to apply,” White said. “We really want to encourage freshmen, sophomores and juniors.”
She said the idea was to develop Institute participants into University leaders and to develop a diverse group of leaders. She also said it was important for the University to develop leaders as part of the Flagship Agenda.
“The idea is leading with integrity,” White said.
According to LeaderShape’s Web site, just under 15,000 students have participated in a LeaderShape Institute nationally.
The Institute will last from Sunday, May 16 until Friday, May 21 at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center in Alexandria, La., White said.
She said LSU decided to get involved with LeaderShape after the program was recommended by peer institutions.
“We’ve got some peer institutions we try to model ourselves after,” White said.
The Institute will include six “cluster facilitators” from LSU’s faculty and staff and two “lead facilitators” provided by LeaderShape. White said the two lead facilitators are from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and the University of South Carolina.
According to the Web site, these facilitators will “serve as role models and learning coaches.”
Thus far, four of LSU’s six facilitators have been chosen. They are Michelle Lowery, assistant director of Union Programming, Angela Guillory, assistant director of Greek Affairs, Jerrel Wade, assistant director of Greek Affairs, and Beverly Major, assistant director of Career Services. The remaining two facilitators will be chosen in the next two weeks.
“We bring the people to help make it happen,” White said. “The minute we leave Baton Rouge, [LeaderShape] maps out the events.”
A review of applications will begin March 19, she said. She said it was not a hard deadline, but it is strongly recommended that students submit applications by that date. White said chosen participants will be notified before Spring Break.
White said she would like LSU’s relationship with LeaderShape to continue in the future and will try to secure corporate sponsorship.
“It would be a wonderful thing to continue LSU’s relationship with LeaderShape,” she said.
This opportunity is possible because of a grant from the Coca-Cola soft drink company, White said.
“This is money that has not been used for two years,” White said. “There is no expense for students.”