LEAD offers opportunities for students to develop professional competencies

The Roger C. Stewart Leadership & Professional Development Department (LEAD) is offering opportunities for students to develop the leadership and interpersonal skills needed to succeed in their careers.

Through on-campus and community-based experiences and the promotion of research-based leadership competencies and curricular integration, LEAD focuses on the development of students’ leadership abilities, civic identities and professional skills. The department’s work targets student growth in 20 skills, established with the input of students, faculty, staff and employers and based on the work of researcher and author Corey Seemiller. The skills are divided into four broad competency areas:

• Communication
• Self-Awareness (Intrapersonal Awareness and Development)
• Collaboration (Interpersonal Skills and Intercultural Knowledge)
• Ways of Thinking

These competencies also align with the embedded outcomes of the Purdue University Core Curriculum, which connects LEAD programs with desired academic and social outcomes for all students. Each broad area is made up of five specific skills that address future success in the workplace and community. 

“Research shows that employers want college graduates who are leaders,” says Stephanie Knight, director of LEAD. “By developing these competencies, Boilermakers can build the professional skills they need to succeed in workplaces and communities beyond Purdue.”

LEAD offers opportunities for students to enhance their Purdue experience through programming and service opportunities. Faculty and staff are encouraged to refer students to upcoming events and programs to stimulate student growth in these competency areas. Highlighted events include:

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, Jan. 16 from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Join LEAD for a day of service and community action exposing participants to the types of leadership that have transformed movements from around the country and across time. Breakfast, supplies and transportation will be provided. Participants are encouraged to bring a donation for ACE Campus Food Pantry. Sign up here.
• LEAP Retreat, Jan. 28. The Roger C. Stewart Leadership Experience at Purdue (LEAP) Program is a first-year leadership development opportunity that utilizes CliftonStrengths for Students®, in which participants gain tools to be successful at Purdue and beyond. Register here. 
• Women in Leadership Institute, March 4. The Women in Leadership Institute is a dynamic conference that exists to develop the leadership capacity of women and expose participants to current issues affecting women. Email leadership@purdue.edu to learn more.
• Essential Career Skills Series, various dates throughout the year. The Essential Career Series invites guest speakers to highlight the importance of developing leadership and professional competencies to become career ready. This series is geared toward understanding how to convey and transform leadership experiences into career readiness. Learn more here.

 Learn more about LEAD by visiting its website.