ÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ University Fosters Future Leaders Through New Initiative
It wasn’t long into a recent workshop of the ÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ University Student Leadership Initiative (CUSLI) before students were learning the secrets of those running the university. The select group of undergraduates met with ÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Pauline Rankin, FPGA Dean Brenda O’Neill, and Jerry Tomberlin, who recently retired as ÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ University president.
They were the first guests for the ÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ University Student Leadership Initiative (CUSLI) pilot project, hosted by the Faculty of Public and Global Affairs.
“Fostering leadership is central to our academic mission in the Faculty of Public and Global Affairs,” explains Dean Brenda O’Neill. “Our programs within FPGA prepare students for future careers in leadership positions, whether in government, the media, the nonprofit sector, business, education, and beyond. This initiative further supports those students who show leadership potential.”
This co-curricular initiative is designed to foster leadership skills in ÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ students, helping them adapt to complex challenges and support societal change. CUSLI offers an intentionally designed curriculum for a small, multidisciplinary cohort of mostly upper-year students and will provide opportunities to learn from leaders and experts across various fields. Specifically, students will participate in training to build capacity for difficult conversations, strengths-based leadership, and advancing meaningful change.
Among the highlights shared during the first week:
“Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you. Imagine the impossible. Listen more and talk less.”
— Pauline Rankin
“Demonstrate leadership in any relationship. Maintain a boundary with your personal life. Engage with people who don’t agree with you.”
— Brenda O’Neill
“Help other people realize their goals and develop their own leadership skills. Sometimes there’s no right answer. Don’t take things personally.”
— Jerry Tomberlin
The next session will focus on knowing ourselves as leaders, developing emotional intelligence and using core values to guide decision making.