Student Leadership Development

Engaging with the community provides incredible opportunities to develop leadership skills.  The center offers programs and events throughout the year to prepare and support students for their engagement on and off campus. 

Civic Engagement Council

In addition to pursuing a leadership role in a specific nonprofit organization, you can run for a seat on the Civic Engagement Council, which supports campus groups working for civic engagement efforts through direct service, advocacy, and community involvement. The council chair is elected through campus-wide elections held at the beginning of the Spring semester, and council members apply and interview for the positions of business director and programming chair for member outreach. One group that works in a particularly close partnership with the center is Alternative Breaks to offer service experiences over Fall and Spring breaks. To view more experiences and opportunities, visit our complete list of student service organizations.

Today’s world requires active engagement in communities and a willingness to tackle complex challenges that may not have clear answers.  Recent research indicates that community leaders, employers, and citizens value a set of foundational leadership capabilities and skills that are required for today’s college graduates to successfully navigate work and engaged citizenship.

EMERGE!, presented by the Division of Student Life, is a cross-divisional leadership development program that provides a foundational leadership development opportunity. Open to all students, it prepares them to successfully transition into the world with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to make a positive impact on their communities. For more information, visit our page on WildcatSync (Davidson login required).