Leading Leaders

Reflections from the President’s Leadership Program Director Lacey Grey Hunter ’08, as PLP prepares to celebrate an important milestone.

BY LACEY GREY HUNTER

WAS I REALLY READY to lead like this? Did others believe I was prepared to lead like this? Years after hoping for a CNU Leadership Fellowship that would never be, I had applied to be the Director of the President’s Leadership Program (PLP). Much to my surprise, and with great relief, I was invited to campus for multiple rounds of interviews, and when I received the call offering me the position, it took a good 24 hours for reality to set in. In a truly full-circle moment, I was given the opportunity to lead the department that had facilitated the most meaningful moments of my personal leadership development.

It was surreal to be home again, and I was excited to dive right into my new role. First up was increasing the reach and reputation of CNU by identifying and engaging students at leadership conferences and competitions. We’ve sent students near and far from Topeka to Switzerland. Regardless of location, Christopher Newport’s PLP students have maintained a nearly 80% success rate when it comes to placing in the top three at national and international leadership competitions.

In the classroom, our students learn the theories and concepts of leadership from our esteemed faculty. Outside of the classroom, PLP staff members create unique opportunities where students are invited to test out those leadership theories in group challenges and then receive feedback from PLP staff on what they’re doing well and where there are opportunities for continued success. Our students are eager to apply what they’ve learned and truly desire to be effective leaders.

The PLP is structured so that students graduate with knowledge and the demonstrated ability to lead. While many leadership programs promise to produce leaders, they often produce graduates who possess only the intellectual and theoretical knowledge of leadership. What sets PLP graduates apart is the fact that they understand how to adjust these theories and concepts to their particular situations, much like quarterbacks or point guards must adjust their play in the middle of a game. When you choose to hire a PLP graduate, you’re choosing to bring someone onto your team who knows how to be a team player, how to offer solutions, and how to affect positive change.

The success of PLP is made possible by an incredible team of colleagues as well as by nearly 1,300 students who are eager to develop their personal leadership styles. None of this is possible without the generous contributions from hundreds of donors who give their time and treasure to support the program and establish scholarships. Many days, I find it hard to believe I have the honor and privilege of leading this dynamic department.

Recent highlights include:

At the Leadership Challenge Event hosted by Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, PLP students won overall second place and received both the Collaboration and Emerging Leader awards.

· Brooke Nixon ’22 and Claire Rooney ’22 placed second in the Student Global Leadership Conference in London, England.

· Ricardo Monge ’23 and Lauren Kane ’23, served as co-presenters at the bi-annual Leadership Educators Institute.

· PLP students placed first, for the second year in a row, and third at the Virginia Military Institute's Annual Leadership and Ethics Conference. (See page 13).

· A group of PLP students served the Hopi and Navajo nations in Arizona, where they assisted with much needed community improvement projects.

· PLP was featured in four national leadership podcasts.

Some highlights we’re looking forward to in the future include:

· PLP staff hosting “leadershops” and one-on-one leadership coaching meetings with PLP students.

· Hosting the US Invitationals for the Collegiate Leadership Competition.

· Hosting the second Global Followership Conference — we’ll be hosting guests from Canada, England, Germany, Pakistan and Namibia to name a few.

· Celebrating the Hearts and Minds Leadership Symposium in April.

Learn more about the President’s Leadership Program at plp.cnu.edu.