‘Survivor’ speaks at leadership forum
From The Daily Vidette
The Dean of Students Office is offering a conference for students interested in learning about applying leadership skills, featuring Ethan Zohn, winner of Survivor Africa, as the keynote speaker.
The event, Leadership Revolution, will be held Feb. 25 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration has begun and will go through Feb. 3. The sign up fee is $15 and will include breakfast and lunch.
“[It will] focus on civic engagement, recognizing your role in the community and where you go next,” Charity Moos, leadership developmental specialist, said. “It’s leadership for a lifetime.”
The program will be interaction-based with students dissolving into small break out sessions to discuss a variety of topics. There will be 24 breakout sessions and each will have a “key sub note speaker” who will facilitate discussion. Participants will have six different themes to choose from and will have an opportunity to participate in four, Moos said.
Many have been involved, Moos said, including the whole service and leadership unit and other staff members from the Dean of Students Office, which includes organizations such as the Student Government Association, to insure the conference is similar to ones held at the national level.
In addition to students from ISU attending, students from universities all over Illinois have also been invited to attend, Moos said.
“It’s an opportunity for interaction and a great place to make contacts and meet new people,” Jamie Thomas, graduate student in educational administration, said.
Thomas is assisting Moos with the presentation.
The program is not just for one type of leader, Moos and Thomas said. The program invites all sorts of “leaders” because of the large amount participating on campus.
“This is tailored around what we’ve heard students say they want,” Moos said.
Students participating in Leadership Revolution will have the opportunity to hear Ethan Zohn speak over lunch about the grassroots soccer league he started in Africa to educate children about HIV. He will also discuss his experiences with leadership revolving around the organization he created, Moos said.
“[Ethan Zohn] fit the bill for whom everyone wanted to hear speak, his characteristics and what he’s about.
He’s a strong role model, someone students can relate too,” Moos said.
Twenty students will have the opportunity to participate in a small break out session with Zohn.
The session will be based on interaction and provide students with a chance to question Zohn about leadership, Moos said.
“There’s something for everyone on this campus,” Thomas said.
Students interested in learning more about the program or registering can go to deanofstudents.ilstu.edu or visit the Dean of Students Office in the Student Health Services Building room 387.