Jordan Stephens, president of the Student Government Association, will be one of the “pilots” for the Sept. 30 Fredonia Leadership Institute (FLI) session “Running Effective Meetings.”
Leadership is a skill that can benefit a student in a number of ways, regardless of major.
It is also a skill that can be developed and nurtured. With this in mind, the Office of Residence Life has launched the Fredonia Leadership Institute (FLI, pronounced fly).
Described by organizers as “a series of dynamic, one-hour workshops designed to help students build and strengthen essential leadership skills,” FLI is open to all students.
Kevin Hahn, associate director of Residence Life, said the program is in its infancy and efforts to help it grow are continuing. He coordinates FLI with Mark Suida, director of Residence Life.
After about a year in development, FLI was launched on Sept. 1 with a session titled “Takeoff.” Three additional sessions (referred to as “FLIing Lessons”) have followed, with five more scheduled through Nov. 5. Sessions are led by faculty/staff members and student leaders.
Because leadership skills are highly valued by employers, organizers said FLI was “intentionally designed to help students grow as leaders both personally and professionally.”
Hahn noted several students have taken part in multiple FLI sessions already. Among them is Mackenzie Beachner, a first-year Marketing major with a minor in Accounting.
“I was drawn to the FLI program because I thought that it would be an interesting place to learn new skills,” she said.
FLI is designed for flexible participation. Students may attend as many workshops as they choose — from one to the full series.
Beachner said the variety of the lessons allows her to “take away something important, useful, or to just have fun” depending on the topic.
One of the sessions she chose was “Breakout Boxes” on Sept. 17. Described as a “escape room in reverse,” participants worked in teams against the clock to solve puzzles, open locks, and “break into the box.”
“I thought it sounded fun to work on a puzzle as a group,” Beachner said. “It also offered a great opportunity to work together as a team.”
The next session “Running Effective Meetings” takes place on Wednesday (Sept. 30) from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Willams Center Room 204 D/E. The “pilots” will be Suida and Jordan Stephens, president of the Student Association.
Four more sessions with topics such as budgeting and conflict resolution are planned this semester. More details on the sessions and a registration link can be found online.
Students who participate in three or more sessions this semester will earn a digital badge through FREDLearn that can be used on their LinkedIn profile. The purpose is to assist students in standing out when applying for jobs or graduate school.
Students may reach out via email to Hahn or Suida or stop at the Student Life Office located in Williams Center Room G112 for more information about FLI.
