The Mountaineer Leadership Program at Mansfield University produced its first class of graduates in December. Thirty-one MU students completed the Bronze level of leadership learning and were honored at a reception.The program is the brainchild of Dennis Murray, acting chair of the MU Psychology Department, and Jody Hare, former director for Student Leadership. Julia Overton-Healy, director of the MU Career Development Center, now acts as the program director.
“I work closely with the Leadership Advisory Council, which helps ensure that we provide a quality experience for the students who want to explore and develop their own leadership talents,” Overton-Healy said.
Students who completed the Bronze level are: Mary Aldridge, Rebecca Bliss, Michelle Brooks, Joshua Brown, Katie Chichester, Shauna Chisholm, Joseph Clemons, Emilee Danielson, Bobbi Jo Egresitz, Katie Gates, Charee Grover, Damolla Hayward, Michael Kane, Katie King, Shanna Koch, Eric Krinks, Brittany McClain, Geralyn Mitchell, Erin Mosher, Lindsay Rossi, Michelle Shaffer, Jaimee Shearer, Natalie Sheer, Brittany Snyder, Alyssa Spicher, Megan Sutton, Daniel Swody, Jodi Rae Tyler, Ashley Wheeler, Dustin Wink, and Kristine Young.
The Mountaineer Leadership Program is designed to give students three tiers of leadership learning: Bronze, which focuses on personal leadership; Silver, which concentrates on leadership within teams and groups; and Gold, which develops change leadership.
As students complete a level, they move to the next. Each level requires students to complete six interactive workshops and a corresponding essay for each workshop. Workshops are facilitated by volunteers, including administration, staff, faculty and students.
“It is extremely gratifying for me to be a part of the Mountaineer Leadership Program and to be working with such dedicated volunteers and such engaged students,” Overton-Healy said. “I’m excited to start the spring semester, where we’ll be offering the Bronze level again, and begin the Silver level. We fully anticipate continued growth as students realize the value of the program as they prepare for their lives after college.”
The Mountaineer Leadership Program is offered as a joint initiative between the Student Affairs Division and the Academic Affairs Division. It is managed through the Career Development Center.
The program is free for the students, thanks to support from the Mansfield University Foundation, which allocated seed money for the program from the unrestricted giving fund.
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