Four hours with a dozen key Lynn University student leaders is a grand opportunity for all of us to roll up our sleeves. It was practically one-on-one time… The president and vice president of the student government association… the outgoing president and a presidential candidate for the Hillel Club (which provides social and educational programming focusing on Jewish holidays, scholarships and history)… and a few more officers and candidates rounded out the attendees. With an intimate group like this, we can really get to the core issues that their campus organizations are dealing with every day.

We covered student leadership staples like recruitment, retention, holding effective meetings, officer responsibilities and being a confident leader. The conversation on Officer Roles and Responsibilities was probably the most lively.

It turned into a great roundtable discussion on student involvement that the students primarily led – helping each other all the way. In a very real way, we were able to discuss specific issues within their organizations and how the different officer roles were affected by, and were responsible for addressing those issues.

The discussion got pretty deep at times as they brought up real and practical situations. The best part was that they got an incredible amount of help from each other and I was content to play the role of facilitator.

Four hours wasn’t enough. Everyone was so engaged in the conversation – and the solutions – that we stayed late to cover all of the material they needed to be successful. When you can get students (make that anybody!) to willingly stay over time, I consider that a good thing.

Although it was great and productive session, I wish there could have been more student leaders there. They could have really benefited from the interaction. I definitely see that there will be more cooperation between the clubs that were represented that day – and the more clubs involved in that the better! One student even garnered volunteer support for her community service efforts from her fellow leaders – she’s already building a personal network among other campus leaders that should enhance her educational experience.

I hope to return to Lynn University in the fall (I never turn down a trip to Florida!). When I do, together we’ll make an effort to get better turnout for all of their campus events by following some simple promo strategies.

PS. Several students are supposed to be sending me photos from the day’s leadership training. I’ll post them here when I get them! Thanks in advance!

THANKS!
Dave GONZO Kelly

PSS. Thanks to Jennifer Herzog, Director of Student Involvement for bringing me in!

About Dave "Gonzo" Kelly (37 Posts)

Dave "Gonzo" Kelly, America's student leadership Trainer™, has been working with students on leadership development since he was a student himself. As an experienced college speaker and trainer his programs maximize student retention by linking student success through extra-curricular activities.