Westfield State University Launches Fall 2024 Leadership Academy for Student and Campus Leaders

On August 14, Westfield State University kicked off its highly anticipated Fall 2024 Leadership Academy, aimed at equipping campus leaders, such as Student Government Association members, Campus Board Activities members, Orientation Leaders, and Resident Assistants, with the skills and knowledge necessary to foster a thriving on-campus community. 

Spanning over two weeks, the intensive training program features a diverse array of workshops, team-building exercises, and leadership development sessions which will enable these student leaders to support University events and organizations throughout the year. Organized under the theme of “Dare to Adventure,” student leaders were brought together by a group study of Dare to Lead, a book penned by author Dr. Brené Brown, which illuminates the nature of what it means to be a compassionate and empathetic leader today.

Director of Residential Life, Chris Mackenzie Willenbrock said of the training, “Our student leaders are talented, engaged, and dynamic students on their own. Getting to spend two intensive weeks together before the start of the academic year lets them ‘fill their cup’ so to speak so they’re prepared for the challenges – and the successes – they’re about to have. As a campus, we depend on them to support each other and care for our student body in ways that not everyone may realize. I’m very impressed with their work this year and I think we’re in for a wonderful academic year.”

The Leadership Academy kicked off with the arrival of Head Resident Assistants (HRAs) who are responsible for building a cohesive and supportive residential environment along with professional staff. These leaders spent time developing the skills they will need to support other Resident Assistants (RAs), including conflict resolution and how to “manage up” in working with busy Residential Area Coordinators and other professional university staff with many responsibilities. The HRAs were able to immediately put their training to use as they helped coordinate activities for other students in the rest of Leadership Academy.

The full cohort of student leaders started their training on Sunday, August 18, opening with the OWLympics, a hallmark event of the Academy which provided a thread of competitions such as flag-making, tug-of-war, and “Amazing Race”-style games which offered levity amongst the more serious training topics. The OWLympics also serves to cement bonds between groups who will need to work in collaborative and cooperative ways throughout the year. 

Following a welcome address from university leadership, including Vice President Dr. Kevin Hearn and Dean of Students Maggie Balch, student leaders continued with their Dare to Lead primer, team icebreakers, and a series of workshops focused on community building and inclusive programming. Leaders also learned hands-on skills such as how to manage budgets and organize event logistics and marketing for student programming. 

Student leaders explored their own personal leadership styles through the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator framework before heading off-campus to Brownstone Park for a day of retreat activities, offering everyone a chance to bond in an informal, outdoor setting, designed to help student leaders unwind and reflect on the leadership skills they have begun to develop.

As the Leadership Academic progressed, student leaders were asked to apply what they were learning about themselves to think about how they will carry out the shared values of our campus, including a focus on community, student growth, service to others, and collaboration. Two of the highlights of the Academy were a workshop by Dr. Jordan Shelby West, Associate Vice Provost of Diversity, Equity, and Community Engagement at George Washington University, dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and Title IX Training from Mary Simeoli, Assistant Vice President for Employee and Labor Relations at Mount Holyoke College.

Other training for student leaders included Safety and Security Day, with a focus on preparation for emergency responses and handling policy misconduct issues, substance abuse prevention, deescalating students in crisis or conflict, and how to be effective bystanders for students in times of need. These sessions are crucial in preparing RAs and others for the challenges they may encounter during the academic year as they keep the community safe.

Student leaders in SAIL, including those involved in Student Government Association, New Student Orientation, and the Campus Activities Board, also attended sessions that will aide them in their mission to create a Campus Community rooted in trust, understanding, and involvement. 

Director Matt Dellea encouraged student leaders in SAIL to be their own leader while emphasizing the importance of working as a team, commenting, “Together, we can maintain a community where all students feel like they belong. This starts with all of our student leaders. Whether they sit on governance committees or are taking photos at a campus event, it's an important part of the process." Some of the discussions and panels held addressed topics such as authentic leadership, customer service, creating a sense of belonging, mentoring and coaching, remembering the “Why” of their work, decision making, and leading with a vision and purpose.

Although Leadership Academy ends on Friday, August 30, the work for student leaders begins as they gear up to welcome the full student body over the Labor Day weekend. 

Director of SAIL Matt Dellea praised the students; hard work as he reflected on the 2024 training. “Our student leaders are at the heart of the Westfield State experience. They take their work very seriously, and we should all be proud of them. I feel confident that we’re ready for the upcoming year!”