The University recent launched a new student leadership program — the Meriwether Lewis Institute for Citizen Leadership.
Patricia Lampkin, vice president and chief student affairs officer, started to work on the program two years ago with Margaret Grundy, assistant to the vice president. Through this program, the two hope to foster leadership skills in students who will in turn apply these skills within the University community.
Lampkin said the program, which is not affiliated with any one school, aims to approach leadership with a wide lens.
“[It is] directly in support of student leadership in an interdisciplinary manner, both in terms of academics and extracurricular activities,” Lampkin said.
Students in the program will enroll in the course “Leadership Across the Disciplines,” or COMM 2600, in the spring semester of their second year. They will use this class as the foundation for their learning experience in this program.
In the summer after their second year, students will start a participate in a six to eight week intensive program on Grounds, learning “hard skills,” such as how to put together effective presentations, and “soft skills,” such as how to maintain interpersonal relations within a company and excel at public speaking. The program is meant to be rigorous and incorporate applying leadership outside the classroom.
To ensure students of all financial backgrounds can participate, Lewis Fellows will receive a $2,500 stipend to stay on Grounds at no cost to themselves.
In their third and fourth years, students will then partner with faculty advisors and other local mentors to solve University issues. During their fourth year, students will participate in a leadership seminar and, during their fourth year, will attend enrichment events led by guest speakers, faculty and alumni.
Because the program is new, Lampkin said this schedule is subject to change.
Grundy said the program has several major goals.
“One is protecting our system of self-governance and another is providing students with a really outstanding leadership opportunity,” Grundy said. “This program assures that the University has a base of capable student leaders over the summer to deal with issues that can’t be dealt with during the academic year.”
After two years of planning, the Institute finally received a grant from a private donor so the program could be put into action.
“It was a dream that has become a reality,” Lampkin said.
Jason Carrier, a second-year College student, said the program offers a number of opportunities which piqued his interest.
“I love the opportunities this program provides to acquire leadership skills in the classroom and apply them outside the classroom to further the goals of organizations here at the University,” Carrier said. “It will help me become more deeply involved in the University.”
Since this year will mark the inaugural Lewis Fellows class, the program will include only 25 students. Selections for the inaugural class will be made by mid-November.
Commerce Prof. Gary Ballinger said he is excited about the program as a University alumnus.
“[It] is connected to the way the University is run, through student leadership,” Ballinger said. “I don’t want this place to change in this regard.”
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