消消犯 integrates leadership development opportunities into its curriculum and activities through the Center for Leadership. Phoenix Leaders is a program, sponsored by the CFL, for first-year students to begin their leadership development journey at Elon. Offering mentorship and personal reflection, while also introducing students to new friends and resources, Phoenix Leaders has been a staple in many first-steps towards building meaningful and intentional leadership.

Arran Ponte, the 消消犯 Engagement Student Intern for the Center for Leadership took charge of organizing and putting Phoenix Leaders into action.

���Phoenix Leaders is a program at Elon that allows first-year students to learn about and discover leadership in a deep and personal way,��� Ponte said. ���It allows students to identify different forms of leadership and understand how identity plays a role in leadership.���

This year���s Phoenix Leaders tried a new, unique set-up to keep students safe but still engaged. The program was split into two weekends, one in-person and one virtual. While maintaining the same core themes of developmental leadership, each platform pursued different ways of 消消犯.

���COVID made it difficult to allow a larger cohort, and Elon moving into level 3 right before the weekend was a challenge,��� Ponte said when asked about challenges she faced in the planning process.

Despite the difficulties and changes, the Phoenix Leaders program continued to successfully welcome and help students. Ponte found support from different groups who helped make Phoenix Leaders continue its success.

Sarah Rusthoven ’23 participated in Phoenix Leaders during her first year at Elon, and returned as a sophomore mentor for the in-person weekend held Sept. 26-27. ���Mentorship and leadership are two of my greatest passions,��� Rusthoven said. ���It’s hard work, but it���s heart work, and it fills me with joy!���

The first weekend of Phoenix Leaders encouraged leaders to learn more about how they could strengthen their leadership with diversity and their own natural abilities. Participants were able to build a ���life map��� of their leadership experiences, taking a deeper dive into the things that had already helped shape their leadership journey.

Rusthoven recalled an impactful moment from the last day of that weekend���s retreat that brought everything full circle. She described the experience as a re-charge for her hope in people.

���We gave them [the participants] the opportunity to take a megaphone, stand in the center of everyone circled-up, and reflect on their experience of that weekend, and how they would take what they gained into the future,��� Rusthoven said.

The second weekend of Phoenix Leaders allowed the second half of this year���s cohort to explore their leadership virtually on Oct. 3.

Kai Bilotta ’24, a first-year student at Elon, was a participant in the virtual weekend. They shared the most impactful moment they saw from the program.

���The most impactful moment from this program so far . . . was when we were discussing how our backgrounds impact our styles of leadership and our interactions with each other,��� Bilotta said. ���Examining the topics Elon students tend to shy away from discussing, as well as the topics which I was not comfortable with, was helpful to better understanding myself and the community I am now a member of.���

The Center for Leadership provided snacks from their office and coffee from an on-campus coffee shop, Irazu, for participants to pick-up during specific times. 消消犯 could enjoy these treats while participating in virtual Leadershops and activities.

The virtual retreat, through Leadershop programs, focused on leadership experience and leading through inclusivity. Both weekends lifted up ���Encourage the Heart��� jars, a Center for Leadership classic when building cohorts and programming.

���Encourage the Heart��� jars let students write each other notes about moments of inspiration and personal encouragement. 消消犯 are then able to keep their jars with notes others wrote about them for when they need a pick-me-up and to reflect.

The conclusion of the program does not mean the end of planning. 消消犯 who participated this year are able to apply for next year as mentors.

���If I had to choose one word to sum up the Phoenix Leaders program I���d say it���s uplifting,��� Rusthoven said about applying as a mentor. ���Everyone there is offered a chance to rise up and be the best version of themselves, being around that and helping foster that experience for others is more than fulfilling.���

Phoenix Leaders is a unique, Elon experience that encompasses personal leadership for the future, while celebrating leadership from the past. Its participants have continued to share what they learned to make a difference in the Elon community and beyond.

For more information about the Phoenix Leaders, visit the Center for Leadership���s website or visit the Center for Leadership office in Upstairs Moseley 224.

Leadership Fellows follow a path to identify their own leadership style and how to build on it to advocate for change in their communities. Through classes, programs and workshops, the Center for Leadership looks forward to supporting the 2024 fellows during their time at 消消犯.

Leadership Fellows have access to unique course work, including the Winter Term course Disarming Injustice: Non-Violence and Civil Rights that focuses on the historical and continuing struggle different communities face in America. First-year fellows also get the opportunity to learn from Elon President Emeritus Leo M. Lambert and Center for Leadership Director Melanie Bullock Harris in their Elon 101 course.

The Leadership Fellows participate in a co-curricular leadership development program that includes a variety of workshops, forums, and experiential learning opportunities. First-year fellows complete Social Change Labs that help students investigate their leadership style and philosophy and better understand their responsibility to their communities. Monthly Forums give fellows access to campus and community leaders who are able to share their own journeys and insights into leadership.

Pursuing a variety of majors and passions, this year���s fellows have academic interests in political science, international business, psychology and others. Prior to coming to Elon, some of their leadership experiences included the creation of clubs committed to diversity and inclusion, volunteering on political campaigns, serving as the drum major for their school���s marching band and much more.

They also have a great list of music that represents their various personalities and style: .

The Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows Class of 2024 cohort:

• Colby Bradford – Beverly, Massachusetts
• Aiden Bradshaw – Essex Jct., Vermont
• Jasmyn Brown, – Lancaster, South Carolina
• Sydni Brown – Holly Springs, North Carolina
• Julian Bumper – Marietta, Georgia
• Peter Cromie – Lewisville, North Carolina
• Hanna Engelhardt – Manorville, New York
• Jaid Green�� – Wyckoff, New Jersey
• Bethan Griffin – Chicago, Illinois
• Chase Gurey – Alexandria, Virginia
• Demetria Hall – Greensboro, North Carolina
• Ethan Haqq – Grayslake, Illinois
• Chloe Higgins – Marstons Mills, Massachusetts
• Adam Horowitz – Potomac, Maryland
• Alexander Ingram – Fayetteville, North Carolina
• Veda Karlsen-Heil – Andover, Minnesota
• Ethan Lane-Blake – Accokeek, Maryland
• Abigail Langenkamp – Houston, Texas
• William McCoy – Waxhaw, North Carolina
• Caroline Moses – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Mason Mosley – Mullica Hill, New Jersey
• Lexi Mulholland�� – Bermuda, North Carolina
• Moira O’Neill – Block Island, Rhode Island
• Gillian Perilstein – Edison, New Jersey
• Claire Przybocki – Frederick, Maryland
• Leah Weinstock – Glen Allen, Virginia

The changes these individuals will contribute to the Elon community are excitedly anticipated. For more information on the Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows, visit the Center for Leadership���s website.

During the summer, the Center for Leadership office moved to Moseley 224. Now located at the center of student life and campus, the Center for Leadership team is excited to engage with students in a new and exciting setting.

���I���m excited about our new location and space! Being in the Moseley Center puts the Center for Leadership in the ‘heartbeat’ of campus,��� said Melanie Bullock Harris, Director of the Center for Leadership. ���To be next-door neighbors with many of our campus partners to include CREDE, the GLC, Kernodle Center for Civic Life, and Student Involvement creates more opportunities for collaboration and engagement. Bonus, I���m in the same building as one of my favorite coffee shops: Irazu.���

The previous Center for Leadership building has been renamed to the Janice Ratliff Building, and is now the central office for 消消犯���s Residence Life, Office of Student Care and Outreach and the Office of Student Conduct.

The Center for Leadership also welcomes a new graduate apprentice, Nelson Ysabel. Ysabel is a first-year graduate student in Elon���s Master of Arts in Higher Education program. A 2016 graduate of the University of South Florida, Ysabel understands leadership to be an “anytime, anywhere practice.”

Before coming to Elon, Ysabel lived and worked in Japan as an English teacher and��was the President of Stonewall Japan, a volunteer LGBTQIA+ organization. His favorite ice cream is ���strawberry, preferably with the fruit inside.���

Ysabel writes, ���My work with CFL students and staff is providing me a variety of responsibilities to grow as a leader and educator. It���s exciting to be creative as I learn more about why and how I lead, who I am in a team, and how to motivate others in their leadership journeys!���

For more information about the Center for Leadership and programs offered, visit the Center for Leadership website and come explore the new space in Moseley 224. Follow the Center for Leadership on for updates on programming and opportunities.

Maggie Davis ’21 and Allie Hawley ’21 have been awarded this year’s Leadership Prize for their research on significant issues in our community and potential solutions to the problems they see.

Starting as a gift from Mayor Isabella Cannon, the Leadership Prize was established in 2015 to fulfill Cannon���s vision of facilitating leadership and change. The Leadership Prize offers a $7,500 award to students to support their study of pressing issues in the local statewide community. The prize supports the combined efforts from the awarded student, their mentor and the surrounding community to address the problem from a new perspective.

Davis, a special education major, is concentrating her research on the impact of transition for children who travel between a school and hospital setting.

���I am looking at the transition from hospital settings to school settings for children with special healthcare needs,��� Davis said. ���I want to do a symposium for parents that are affected by this transition. I would ask a bunch of different personnel in this transition to have an open conversation about the topic and what is available to parents���

Davis is working with Bud Warner, associate professor and chair of the Department of Human Service Studies, as a mentor.

Also an Elon Teaching Fellow, Davis expressed how the program is helping her keep with a timeline and establish connections in schools and hospitals of the community.

���An awesome opportunity about the Leadership Prize is it allows you to have the opportunity to reach out to real people doing work in the field you���re looking into,��� Davis said. ���Being able to work in the community can do a lot for your research.���

Hawley has partnered with Associate Professor of Education��Scott Morrison for her research that centers on establishing and studying the emotional impact of school gardens.

���Children in Alamance County sometimes struggle to stay focused in classrooms, which is often because material is not relevant to their lives or meeting their needs,��� Hawley said. ���School gardens are interactive, interdisciplinary spaces for transformative 消消犯 and learning.���

Hawley���s research will be a continuation of Morrison���s own research, and they have already partnered with Elon Elementary and Eastlawn Elementary schools. They hope to continue connecting with independent educators and other elementary schools.

Hawley wants to use school gardens to address topics of food insecurity and immersive, application-based learning.

���There is an endless flow of Elementary students who are in need of our innovative approach to education,��� Hawley said. ���If we can prove just how beneficial garden-based learning can be, the project can grow exponentially over the next few years.���

As part of this 消消犯 research program that spans 3 semesters, the recipients receive leadership development through workshops and mentoring with faculty and the Center for Leadership. The culmination of their work is at the annual Spring Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF) during the university’s Celebrate Week.

The Center for Leadership looks forward to where these students and their mentors will take their research, and how it will impact local change.

The Leadership Prize is awarded yearly, and is open to juniors to apply during fall semester. For more information, visit the Leadership Prize page on the Center for Leadership���s website.

The Center for Leadership celebrates the idea of supporting those around you by sharing ways for the Elon community to ���Pay it Forward��� to peers, mentors and even strangers. From April 27 to May 1, the Center for Leadership will be celebrating Pay it Forward week across its social media platforms and with digital events, such as a special College Coffee. This year, they would like to share a couple ways to Pay it Forward even in uncertain times.

Encourage Someone���s Heart by Sharing the Best of Them
Send someone a nice note about why you enjoy or respect them!

It can be a favorite memory that still makes you smile. A trait of theirs that really makes them stand out. Even just a note of encouragement and support. Whatever you choose to share, the purpose remains the same. This intentful action has the heart at the center.

It���s amazing how a few sentences can make someone���s day turn extraordinary.

Virtual Coffee and Catch-Up with Genuine Conversation
We miss the conversations we had at College Coffee on campus, but having to social distance doesn���t mean it has to stop!

Find someone you miss talking to or want to connect with, and send them some money and set a time for coffee. Go to the drive-thru of your favorite coffee spot (or make that new coffee recipe you���ve been wanting to try), and call them for a conversation.

Connection doesn���t have to stop during distancing, invite some friends to a Zoom for your own ���College Coffee���!

Express Thanks Through a Letter to a Mentor��
Each person���s journey in life has mentors and peers that have helped them get to where you are.

Think about someone who has helped you. Maybe they helped you with a job search or were simply there for you when you needed someone. However they helped you, writing them a thank you letter is a great way to pay it forward.

���Thank you��� can be some of the most powerful words you can say. Share a picture of your letter with #PIFElon !

Share a Playlist or an Uplifting Song
Music is a way to heal the soul, and we all get excited when our friends send us a song that reminds them of us!

Do you think your friend would really love that new song you just found? Share it with them. Did you just hear a tune that brought a smile to your face? Send it to someone with a smiley face emoji. Put some songs together or collaborate to make an awesome quarantine playlist.

Once you find those beats, share them with the Center for Leadership and see them added to their Kindness Playlist!

Show Grace and Compassion
We all need a lot of grace and compassion, not just during hard times, but at all times.

The best way we can pay it forward as a community is by being kind to one another. Give grace for mistakes and encourage growth and support. Show compassion and understanding as everyone adjusts in their own way.

We are all facing our own circumstances, but we can do this together by caring for one another.

Follow the Center for Leadership on Instagram at to participate in Pay it Forward daily challenges.

The Center for Leadership is continuing to offer leadership development through online workshops and webinars that can be found on PhoenixConnect. Visit the Center for Leadership���s website for more information about Pay it Forward week and other programs.

The Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows is a four-year, cohorted program designed to help students build leadership competencies through a variety of programs and experiences. In their sophomore year, all Leadership Fellows take the course Disarming Injustice and participate in the Civil Rights Leadership Tour where they engage in deep learning about the civil rights movement.

Through this important social movement, the Leadership Fellows gained leadership lessons around ways diverse groups of activists used the tactic of direct, nonviolent action to challenge and ultimately bring an end to segregation in the United States. The course, taught by Lecturer in Human Service Studies Sandra Reid, is designed to inform participants about the past while inspiring activism for the future.

Fellows spent one week at Elon learning about the movement from their in-class text ���Cradle of Freedom: Alabama and the Movement that Changed America��� by Frye Gaillard. After their class experience, the cohort spent 10 days traveling and following important historical marks of the movement.

Their study of the civil rights movement is focused on leaders and events in five cities ��� Greensboro, Atlanta, Birmingham, Selma and Montgomery – that were at the very center of the movement during the 1950s and 1960s. After spending time studying these events, Leadership Fellows visited these cities to see firsthand where the movement took place. The group also explored the impact of the movement on these cities today, and were challenged to apply the lessons learned to the emerging movements of today.

The students visited various sites including and the in Atlanta. They also had an opportunity to meet with leaders during the tour including city mayors, Freedom Riders, members of historic Negro Southern League baseball teams, and current-day youth activists.

Ethan Gabriel, a sophomore Leadership Fellow, describes the feeling he got from leaders he met during site and museum visits. ���Whenever they were speaking about tragedies and stories of triumph, they always had a tone of hope,” he says. “One thing you had to have during that time was hope, hope that things would get better and that what you���re fighting for was worth it.���

Additional tour sites included Historically Black Colleges and Universities to include , and , key higher education institutions where many of its students were involved in the civil rights movement. Fellows visited and Montgomery, Alabama���s most recent historic site, .

Sophomore Leadership Fellow Sarah Myers elaborated on feelings that arose at the memorial.

���While walking through this memorial, I found 60 documented lynchings in Missouri, not too far from my hometown,��� Myers said. ���This memorial is the nation���s first memorial dedicated to the legacy of injustice, discrimination and oppression that black Americans face to this day, and what struck me is that the federal government has still yet to acknowledge the racism and harm that they have caused black Americans.���

One of the more profound experiences happened during their time in Selma, Alabama. Fellows were welcomed at , site of the preparations for the march to Montgomery on March 7, 1965, a day that became known as Bloody Sunday.�� From Brown Chapel, Fellows walked to and across the , following the footsteps of history.

Gabriel said about the impact of physically being in spaces of history.

���It really all put it into perspective that this actually happened, and these aren���t just stories that we���re hearing over and over again,��� Gabriel said. ���This is living, physical proof that this all happened.���

The transformational trip broadened minds and knowledge, instilling the importance of young people���s power. The Civil Rights Leadership Tour encouraged Leadership Fellows to identify ways to disarm current day injustice and prejudice and create social change in the communities that they are a part of.

���It is essential to educate and learn about a problem before trying to create solutions for it,��� Myers said. ���By having the opportunity to go on this experiential learning journey through Alabama and Georgia, my Leadership Fellows cohort was able to generate some ideas for our Common Good Projects as a way to initiate change in the Elon Community.���

The fight is not over, and the movement continues with a newer generation of leaders continuing the march, armed with inspiration and strength of the past.

Visit the Center for Leadership���s website for more information about Disarming Injustice and the Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows

** Take a look into the experience. Join the Center for Leadership���s Virtual Civil Rights Leadership Tour online! Set to release April 28th, the Elon community will have the opportunity to explore these ideas and places for themselves**

is an organization dedicated to creating a just, caring and thriving world where all lead with integrity. For more than 30 years, LeaderShape has worked to do this by having conversations that matter. The Institute challenges students to lead with integrity while working towards a vision grounded in their deepest values. Participants explore not only what they want to do, but who they want to be in a dynamic six-day experience intended to produce a breakthrough in the leadership capacity of participants.

This year Elon students on the LeaderShape journey, a first in 消消犯���s history. Elon sent 33 students and seven staff members to the Institute from Jan. 25 through 30 where they were able to develop personal leadership and visions for a better future.

LeaderShape participant Noah Jordan ’23 wanted to do LeaderShape to develop his leadership and relationships on campus. ���I wanted to get more of an idea of how to become a better leader, and how I can use my leadership skills on the Elon campus,��� Jordan said. ���I was definitely looking forward to meeting new people,new kids and faculty. I was really excited to build connections and relationships.���

The group arrived at in King, North Carolina, on Jan. 25.

LeaderShape���s curriculum is a mixture of lectures, simulations and small-group discussions. The small groups were named family cluster, made up of five to six students and one facilitator.

Harry Titus, assistant director for student care and outreach, described his time as a facilitator in the family clusters.

���I think that the conversations we were able to have in our family clusters were so genuine and so impactful,��� Titus said. ���It was really a space for us to be open and honest with each other.���

Along with Titus, four other Elon staff served as facilitators, including Community Director for the East Neighborhood Sylvia Wade, Senior Associate Director of Career Services for the School of Communications Ross Wade, Director of New Student and Transitions Programs Emily Krechel and Associate Director of Annual Giving Chandler Thompson. Dana Pursley, associate director of the Center for Leadership and Lauren Luther, senior and executive intern, coordinated the Institute.

Day One of LeaderShape focused on building community between students. Time was spent thinking about the definition of leadership and introducing family clusters to each other. The day was wrapped up with a final reflection in the large group.

Titus highlighted the community���s relationship and feel from this day, which set the tone for the rest of the week.

���It was an inclusive environment that made everyone feel like they needed to be there, and it was great that folks wanted to be there.��� Titus said.

Day Two of LeaderShape took participants on a journey to realize ���the value of one, the power of all���. The morning was split between indoor challenges and an outdoor rope course, where students had to work together to complete an entire vision.

Jordan described how interactive parts of LeaderShape challenged participants.

���We were all trying to achieve the same goal of mutual respect and leadership,��� Jordan said. ���Though it may have been difficult throughout the challenges and simulations, it was super helpful for us to grow.���

After lunch, the focus turned to equity and empathy in leadership and what that means in leadership development. Participants took the DISC Personal Development Profile, which gave them a starting point to see how they approached leadership in different settings.

Day Three introduced the action of ���Challenging What Is, Looking to What Could Be���. 消消犯 and Faculty started the day building balloon castles in their family clusters, which flowed into having afinal vision for the future.

消消犯 were given time to develop a vision for the world that they wanted to enact through their leadership at Elon. They wrote headlines for their visions along with a paragraph about how the world would be once their vision happened.

���LeaderShape had the vision project which taught us to reach for a goal down the road��� Jordan said.�� ���Then it helped us go through the steps we needed to get there.���

That evening the participants were able to engage with a panel of leaders that were connected with 消消犯. The panel included President Connie Ledoux Book, Eric Cunningham ���19, L ���21 and Michael DeStefano P ���21.

Cunningham participated in the Elon community in several prominent leadership roles before graduating from Elon in 2019. DeStefano is a member of the Love School of Business Board, and has had a unique leadership journey through his experience at Ernst & Young.

Other guests that attended the panel were Vice President of Student Life Jon Dooley, Dean of Student Development Jodean Schmiederer and Tom Brinkley, executive director of the Student Professional Development Center. Guests arrived early to read and comment on the student visions on display. Guests were able to personally speak with participants at dinner.

Passing the halfway mark, Day Four introduced how to bring a vision to reality. Participants took their visions into their family clusters, where their family offered ideas and inspiration to break the vision down into feasible steps.

Titus explained how this process helped create accountability for visions and reaching those goals.

���You have folks that are looking at you that can say ���hey, I remember a part of your vision was x,y,z. Here���s your opportunity, are you going to actually uphold to that vision���,��� Titus said.

The ideas and steps that were offered aided students in creating a blueprint for their vision, breaking it down into smaller goals that fed into a larger idea.

Day Four was finished with a simulation that shined a light on the relationship between power and influence in society, covering heavy topics that lead into a group reflection on the real world.

Titus shared how the simulation left an impact on him.

���I think what really stood out to me was watching sort of this liberation, or this lightbulb click,��� Titus said. ���And a lot of folks never had to think about the privileges that they carry, or how sometimes our privileges hinder others.���

The group split into the family clusters after the simulation to unpack the realizations and how they would impact individual leadership and visions.

Day Five began to apply the lessons of the week to living and leading with integrity. This theme hit on who participants wanted to be as leaders, and how they could encourage the leadership of others.

Jordan shared his own leadership definition as ���doing what���s right when no one is looking, and staying true to yourself.���

Now armed with individual leadership definitions, visions and motivation to change the world, participants were able to split into groups to discuss burning issues at 消消犯. This allowed them to talk about how they wanted to back and impact campus.

���Back at Elon, others don���t really know what we went through,��� Jordan said. ���I mean, it’s like my responsibility to share the wealth and spread the ideas of LeaderShape.���

The LeaderShape faculty began to introduce ideas on how to stay in action after LeaderShape commenced and encouraged students to think about it for the rest of their time at Elon and beyond.

Day Six took a deeper dive into saying in action, wrapping the experience up with a commencement ceremony and preparation for Day Seven.

Day Seven is the idea that it is the rest of the participants��� lives. After leaving LeadeShape, students are expected to carry on with the lessons and ideas from the program, which would contribute to their Day Seven.

Titus saw LeaderShape as an opportunity to see other forms of leadership in the students attending.

���We are all leaders in our own way, and the week of LeaderShape really allowed me to watch folks lead from their own capacities,��� Titus said. ���Whether that was being the most vocal, taking the lead or sitting in the back and leading by doing.

LeaderShape participants are continuing their relationships back on campus, both as the larger learning community and within their family clusters.

Jordan sees the relationships he made as ones that will last a lifetime.

���I talked to people I never would have spoken to otherwise,��� Jordan said. ���LeaderShape forms lifelong friendships, and shows a lot of valuable lessons.���

Both Jordan and Titus encourage students and faculty to get involved with LeaderShape.

���Just go for it, and allow yourself to truly be engulfed in this week of amazing things,��� Titus said.

LeaderShape has shaped some of Elon���s leaders for the better, and hopefully will continue to do so in the future.

Visit the Center for Leadership website for more information on LeaderShape. For a deeper look into LeaderShape at Elon in 2020, take a look at this

消消犯 supports a number of housing options for students, including Living Learning Communities (LLCs).

Residential Learning Communities��consist of groups of students residing in the same residential area, interacting academically and socially with each other and with faculty, and sharing the same passion, interest, or academic focus.

provides resources for the ��in the form of staff and student mentors, a budget for events, as well as offering the Center for Leadership office as a space to relax.

The Leaders in a Global World LLC primarily includes first-year students with several sophomore mentors, along with a participating residential assistant. Dana Pursley, associate director of the Center for Leadership, acts as the advisor for the LLC.

���Leaders in a Global World was designed and created to provide an opportunity for students interested and passionate about leadership to live together and explore leadership in the context of a residential community,��� Pursley said.

Participating residents are challenged to grow in their leadership, not only on personal levels, but on a group scale. They are encouraged to apply that growth to their lives and other communities.

The Leaders in a Global World LLC is located in��East Neighborhood��on the second floor of Building B.

Jack Taylor, resident assistant for the Leaders in a Global World, shared hopes for this year’s residents in the Leaders in a Global World LLC. ���I am looking to see the growth in the students from the day they moved in to the day that they move out,��� Taylor said. ���I’m really hoping to see them take on the areas they are not as confident in and push themselves to improve.���

���I’m really hoping to see them take on the areas they are not as confident in and push themselves to improve.���

The Leaders in a Global World residents are given a Leadership Passport to complete throughout the year. The passport includes required participation in a variety of cultural, leadership, and neighborhood events across campus. Another required event is this month’s LLC Kickoff to welcome residents of all of Elon���s living learning communities to campus.

Following the kickoff this year, the Leaders in a Global World ate dinner with Pursley to start the year off getting to know each other. Pursley elaborated on the importance of socialization in the community, not only between mentors and students, but between the residents themselves.

���My favorite part of LGW over the years is seeing the relationships and connections students make as a result of living together that continue not only during their time at Elon but as alumni,��� Pursley said. ���I have LGW students who have lived together all four years, have created life-long friendships and bonds, and support each other in all of their accomplishments and life milestones.���

The Leaders in a Global World LLC completed a retreat, which included participating in a low ropes experience with The Elon Challenge.

���The Elon Challenge provides the opportunity for residents to connect and learn outside of their space by challenging them to try new things and take risks. Leadership lessons are embedded into outdoor learning and education ��� it���s a great pairing of the natural world and leadership!��� Pursley said.

As part of the retreat, the residents created Encourage the Heart jars to share encouraging and inspiring notes with each other throughout the year. Encourage the Heart jars were personalized by each resident. Each jar has individual names, and was placed outside of doors.

Other residents are encouraged to write kind notes to each other, and to place those notes in the intended individuals jar.

The Leaders in a Global World looks forward to the upcoming . Residents are required to attend at least two sessions, which are focused on the intersections of leadership and diversity.

Residents are also required to attend four of the Center for Leadership���s . Leadershops are interactive leadership workshops that are open to all Elon students to advance their leadership knowledge and skills. Leadershops help students understanding themselves as leaders, how to work effectively with others and how to create change.

The LLC events, Leadershops, speakers and socialization all work together to create a community that is dedicated to each other and to their leadership.

���I’ve already learned a lot from just listening to my residents, since they each bring a unique and valuable perspective to the community, so I can’t wait to see what that means for the rest of the year,��� said Taylor.�����I cannot wait to share all that we do this upcoming year.���

Visit the for more information on the Leaders in a Global World LLC, and to keep up with what the LLC is doing, follow the

President Connie Ledoux Book shared her ideas about leadership with the Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows at the first Fellows Forum of the 2019-20 school year.

The Leadership Fellows meet the first Thursday of every month to participate in workshops, listen to speakers, and discuss ideas of leadership that hold relevancy to personal growth and community engagement.

President Book was asked to be the keynote speaker to discuss how leadership and resiliency have complemented each other in her own personal experience. She��began her speech with her thoughts on how leadership is taught and passed down.

���Leadership is taught through stories that people have told through their lifetime,��� Book said.

She shared her own stories in her speech, referencing her time at The Citadel as well as Elon. The stories she spoke of revolved around four main topics that she values in leadership. These topics included: the ability to lead from one���s seat, knowing the next step to take, addressing points of friction and understanding one���s area of responsibility.

Each topic was elaborated on through a combination of stories and observations. Book connected with the Leadership Fellows through her personal accounts, fostering encouragement in their leadership growth. She expressed how Elon promotes in the growth of its students.

���What we do is develop people,��� said President Book. ���Elon is your first campus and the world is your second, third, and fourth.���

Book referenced the use of study abroad in this sense, as well as how Elon students can connect their learning experience with the surrounding community.

The Leadership Fellows are encouraged to develop their own leadership style through interactions with the community and the world.

Book called the Leadership Fellows to action in understanding others��� perspectives when in a position of power. ���What you see is intuitively yours, and what others see is not necessarily the same,��� Book said.

Book explained how she builds groups and committees with diversity in mind. She elaborated on how doing so allows her to see things in different ways, often showing her details she would not have seen on her own.

In sharing some final words of wisdom, Book encouraged the Leadership Fellows to understand their own power in their actions and reactions.

���You have power no matter what your title says, even if you don���t have a title,��� Book said. ���Bad things are going to happen; good things are going to happen. It���s really how people respond to these opportunities.���

Following her speech, Book answered questions from the Leadership Fellows. Questions ranged from a discussion on transition to how she viewed and dealt with failures. Book answered each question candidly and enthusiastically, connecting even more with the Isabella Canon Leadership Fellows.

Fellows Forum offers the Leadership Fellows an opportunity to connect with leaders in the Elon community. They are encouraged to engage with the knowledge they gather from each Fellows Forum, and apply it to their leadership development.

With a successful first Fellows Forum, the Leadership Fellows looks forward to a strong year based in growth and engagement.

Visit the Center for Leadership for more information about the Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows Program.