The 11th annual session of the Meredith LeaderShape® Institute was a huge success with 37 participants graduating, thus bringing our total to 401 Meredith LeaderShape graduates over the 11-year history.
This year’s session was held at Fort Caswell on Oak Island from May 10-15, 2011. Lead facilitators were Anne Arseneau, of the College of William & Mary and Kelly Jo Karnes, of the University of Iowa. On-Site coordinator was Carla Mena, ’12, a 2010 graduate of Meredith LeaderShape.
Meredith College faculty and staff members who served as cluster facilitators were Susan Drury-Rohner, Sherri Henderson & Meredith Secosky. Each of this year’s coordinators recommend the experience to other faculty and staff.
Henderson said getting to know students was a benefit of the LeaderShape program.
“Working in Health Services at Meredith gives us opportunities to meet students, but not engage like we could do at LeaderShape,” Henderson said. “I truly enjoyed getting to know the students much better and encourage anyone who has not been to step out and push yourself. You never know what you might learn about our students and yourself.”
Drury-Rohner said the most rewarding part of the week was “seeing the light bulb go off when they understand and apply the concepts being introduced.” She observed student participants gaining a stronger sense of community with their fellow Meredith students, and building communication skills.
“Some of the activities challenged the students to face feelings that they were not necessarily comfortable with, but they were able to work through these feelings together and in a ‘safe’environment,” Drury-Rohner said.
Secosky had participated in LeaderShape as a Meredith student, so she has seen the benefits of the program for students and the program leaders.
“Both times I attended LeaderShape I was at a different point in my life and had a different perspective, and each time I was blown away by how much I learned about myself and others, and was overall strengthened as a young female leader,” Secosky said. “It is a completely life changing experience and I would do it every summer if I could, but I wouldn’t want to take an opportunity like this away from someone else at Meredith who has not yet experienced LeaderShape.”
The annual LeaderShape Vision Showcase, featuring the visions of these 37 fantastic participants, will be held September 8-9, 2011, in Kresge Auditorium. All are invited to visit and to be inspired by the dreams of the leaders among us.
For more information on LeaderShape or to volunteer as a cluster facilitator, contact Betsy Dunn-Williams, assistant director of student leadership and service, at betsyw@meredith.edu.
In this Issue:
Top Academic Scholarship Recipients Announced
Alumna Samantha Cibelli Earns Fulbright Grant
Research Partnership Grants Fund Summer Projects for Student-Faculty Teams
Faculty/Staff Facilitators Appreciate LeaderShape Experience
Readership Survey Results
Professor of Music Ellen Williams Completes Mahler CD
Faculty/Staff Accomplishments
Upcoming Events
News Briefs
Have you presented research or attended a professional meeting recently? Has your department earned an award? Share news of these accomplishments and more with the Meredith community. Faculty and staff are invited to email items to Melyssa Allen, “Campus Connections” editor, at allenme@meredith.edu.