Program teaches leadership to sophomores

Sophomores at Norwich University can join a yearlong program designed to give them the tools to be an effective leader, according to a past participant.

The Leadership Enrichment and Development Program (LEAD) is being used to keep Corps of Cadets and civilian sophomores involved in the school and to develop their leadership skills, according to Paul Lovett, a 20-year-old junior studies of war and peace major from Oakdale, Calif.

"The purpose of the program is to help sophomores develop their intelligent leadership potential," Lovett said. "They can have experience in learning what styles of leadership are better for certain groups (of people) and worse for others."

The sophomore leadership program teaches participants different types of leadership skills as well as the psychology of leadership, according to a student in the LEAD Program.

"Whether they are in the Corps of Cadets or [they are] a traditional lifestyle student, this gives them a chance to experience leadership at Norwich," said Cathleen Mallette, a 20-year-old junior psychology major from Ticonderoga, N.Y. "Norwich teaches leadership, but it's not just for the Corps of Cadets."

Since 1993, civilian and corps students have been going to school on the same campus and this program was created to bridge the gap between the two lifestyles.

"They wanted the program to be inclusive, not just for the corps," Lovett said. "The civilian students add a different element to (the program), so it's not just one mentality."

The program has both tangible and intangible benefits that participants will take with them into the future, students said.

"It's something to put on their resume," said Kristina Quinlan, a 20-year-old junior architecture major from Rock City Falls, N.Y. "If they are in the corps and looking to get a leadership position then this program could help them as well."

Meetings are workshop style classes that teach different leadership skills, Mallette said. "Then we apply those lessons learned in some kind of interactive way with other students that are there."

The meetings are centered around homework assignments that each group presents, Lovett said. "Then it goes into various team-building and idea-building exercises."

Active listening is one of the many lessons taught during the monthly meetings of the LEAD Program.

"A lot of times in a discussion it's very cut throat, you won't listen to other people's thoughts,you only think about your own," Quinlan said. "Then when you leave you realize, ‘Oh my gosh I don't know what they just said'."

Sophomores who are still interested in joining the LEAD program can inquire about joining in Gen. Kelley's Office in Jackman Hall.