November 2005

Workshops foster leadership skills, build resumés

UC Davis staff member Keltie Jones leads a workshop on the importance of inspiring a shared vision, part of the Student Leadership Development Series. (Karin Higgins/UC Davis)

During students' college years, many of their learning experiences happen outside the traditional classroom. At UC Davis, students have the opportunity to sharpen their leadership skills and learn to work well with different personalities by participating in the Student Leadership Development Series.

About 20 extra-curricular workshops are offered per quarter, almost always free, through Advising Services within four different categories: communication, interpersonal relationships and group dynamics; ethics and values; multiculturalism, the global community and social change; and organizational structures and cultures.

"Everyone will be leaders in some way throughout life -- whether in their careers or in their families," says Keltie Jones, who serves as coordinator for the series. "These workshops are a wonderful resource for students to learn these life skills."

Variety of topics

Each workshop lasts approximately two hours, and they cover a variety of topics, including conflict resolution, earning respect as a leader, delegating successfully and team building. Attendance ranges from five to 50, depending on the topic, and registration is open until workshops are filled, often up to the day before the event.

Some of the topics offered during the fall quarter drew on the popular television series, The Apprentice. Key lessons included exploring ethical dilemmas in team situations, potential pitfalls of unethical behavior, and how to recognize this type of behavior. Current workshop offerings can be found on the series Web site, and winter quarter topics will be posted soon.

During the last academic year, Jones estimates, about 400 students participated in workshops advertised by e-mail notices and flyers posted around campus. Students from all different majors and colleges attend. Some students are looking for what future employers may want. Others are trying to get a sense of culture. Yet others are focused on developing their leadership abilities within the community.

Jones says participation in the program provides students with a real understanding of what it is like to work as a member of a team and what being a leader involves.

Workshops can also help students build their resumé. Students can obtain a certificate of completion for finishing eight sessions, a team-building workshop, a group service project, and an internship or leadership coursework. Many workshops have also served to encourage students to pursue a leadership minor, Jones says.

'Everything to gain'

Angelina Malfitano, left, one of two student assistants to the chancellor, talks with receptionist Denise Nelson in the Student Affairs office. (Karin Higgins/UC Davis)

Angelina Malfitano, a fourth-year student majoring in political science, and women and gender studies, was involved in leadership and student government during high school, so she immediately hooked into the leadership development series as a freshman. She has participated in several workshops and attended the annual leadership conference.

She says the skills learned during workshops have definitely helped her, not only as she prepares to apply for law school, but also as she negotiates with the administration on important campus issues in her role as a student assistant to the chancellor.

"Especially in college, everyone is looking for some special quality that will set him or her apart from others, and this series definitely builds off the leadership skills that we already embody," Malfitano says. "Students have everything to gain from these workshops, and I encourage all of my peers to take advantage of these free resources."

Students interested in the leadership series should save Saturday, Feb. 11, on their calendar for Success, a student leadership conference with numerous workshops and guest speakers. "The conference is a great opportunity for students to obtain credit for multiple workshops in one day," Jones says. "We cover so many topics -- there's something for everyone."

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