Sculpt Your Leadership Style!
Join us for a transformative leadership experience at this year’s Student Leadership Conference! Our conference theme “Sculpting Your Leadership Style” invites attendees to discover & cultivate their authentic leadership identity to inspire the next generation of leaders to lead with confidence, authenticity, & creativity!
Personal Growth | Skill-building Workshops | Networking Opportunities | Leadership Development
Our 2024 Keynote Speaker
Dr. Gina Loring | 
Of African American, Eastern European Jewish and Muscogee Creek Native American descent, Dr. Gina Loring is the current Poet Laureate of the African American Policy Forum and was named a Master Artist Fellow through the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. She has facilitated writing workshops and performed in over ten countries. She was featured on Jane Fonda’s Fire Drill Fridays, Rosario Dawson’s The Assembly, two De La Soul albums, two seasons of HBO’s Def Poaetry, and has been commissioned to write poems for Greenpeace, Susan and David Rockefeller, Mickalene Thomas, and Quincy Jones. She teaches in the Los Angeles Community College district and has worked extensively with incarcerated teens and youth transitioning out of trafficking.
Breakout Session #1: 10:40AM-11:40PM
From Conformity to Creativity: Transform Your Leadership Style
Violet Walker, Daniel Guel, Faatimah Mehmood, & Kendra Williams | Conference Center 110
In today’s evolving professional landscape, authenticity in leadership is more crucial than ever. Our workshop, From Conformity to Creativity: Transform Your Leadership Style, is designed to empower student professionals to embrace their true selves while confronting the challenges posed by traditional professional environments. This engaging session will provide participants with actionable strategies for leading with authenticity and confidence. We will dive deep into the complexities faced by students and professionals of color, who often encounter pressures to conform to established norms that may not align with their genuine identities. By addressing these realities, we aim to equip attendees with tools to assert their unique perspectives and strengths in their professional journeys. Central to the workshop is our Four Corners activity, which will encourage students to engage deeply with the workshop’s themes and with each other, sparking meaningful discussions and reflections on personal and collective experiences. Join us to explore how you can lead with integrity and resilience, create inclusive spaces, and support each other in the quest to be your best selves in any professional setting.
Identity Check: Leading with Authenticity
Minerva Carrillo Ortega & Pricilla Cardenas | Conference Center 210
During this workshop, students will explore the multifaceted components of their identities and how these influence their leadership style. They will reflect on their privileged and marginalized identities, gaining a deeper understanding of how these aspects shape their approach to leadership, and helping them lead with greater awareness and authenticity. After students complete an identity wheel activity, we will discuss factors such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and cultural backgrounds. The goal of our session is to empower students to lead with authenticity and embrace their intersectional perspectives.
Navigating Higher Education: Building Leadership & Resilience
Jose Medina III | Conference Center 215
This engaging workshop explores key elements essential for success in higher education: leadership, resilience, and managing failure. Participants will embark on a reflective journey through my personal experiences in higher education, including overcoming imposter syndrome and navigating challenges. The session will delve into the definition of leadership, discuss qualities of effective leaders, and offer practical strategies for developing leadership skills. We'll define resilience and share strategies for building it, using interactive elements to encourage personal reflection and sharing. The workshop will also cover the concept of a growth mindset, illustrate its benefits, and provide examples of how it can transform setbacks into growth opportunities. Attendees will learn about the support systems available at UC Merced and receive practical tips on taking initiative in both academic and professional settings. By the end of the session, participants will have a clearer understanding of how to cultivate leadership, embrace resilience, and approach failure as a learning opportunity. Join us for a dynamic and interactive session aimed at equipping you with the tools to thrive in higher education and beyond.
Punchlines and Power Moves: How Stand-Up Comedy Transformed My Leadership Style
Josiah Beharry | Granite Pass 155
Ever been in a meeting so dull you started mentally drafting your resignation letter? Same here. But instead of quitting on the spot, I called on my secret weapon: stand-up comedy. Welcome to a workshop where laughter isn't just the best medicine—it's the ultimate power move. In "Punchlines and Power Moves," we'll dive into how a killer joke can save a lifeless boardroom, boost your confidence, and make you the leader everyone wants to follow (even on Instagram—just hide the Twitter; I'm trying to get you confidence, not fired). Say goodbye to those soul-sucking silences after, “Any comments?”—you’ll be delivering sentences that hit harder than finals week. Expect to laugh, learn, and maybe even cringe at some of my early comedy attempts (spoiler: don’t try out your new material around HR). But hey, it’s all part of the journey to becoming a leader who can handle anything with a smile and a punchline. We’ll cover everything from turning nerves into nailing it, using humor to disarm the toughest crowd, and building lasting relationships. You’ll also learn how to network like a pro, give presentations that people actually enjoy, and confidently talk to anyone across the aisle—all with a dash of humor. So if you’re tired of boring meetings, if you’ve ever wanted to say, “I’m not afraid to look stupid” and mean it, or if you just want to learn how to kill it with comedy in the boardroom, this is the workshop for you. Warning: side effects include uncontrollable confidence, a newfound addiction to applause, and possibly an HR meeting or two.
Intersectionality: Why Your Identity Matters
Hala Alnagar | Granite Pass 130
Our identities shape our lived experiences and equip us with a unique expertise that cannot be replicated; however, we are usually not taught how to leverage our unique lived experience to advocate for ourselves and others. Participants in this workshop will learn the following: 1) the history of “intersectionality” and its roots in social justice; 2) the complexity of privilege and marginalization and where our identities fit in this framework; and 3) how to leverage one’s own privilege and marginalization to combat systems of oppression. Developing an understanding of one’s own lived experience – and in particular the complex relationship we each have with privilege – is one step towards becoming an empathetic leader. This workshop will introduce participants to some helpful tools and frameworks to begin this practice of self-reflection.
Authentic Leadership: Letting Your Identity Shine
Lorena Mejia & Nick Mundwiller | Granite Pass 115
In this workshop Lorena Mejia and Nick Mundwiller from the Division of Equity, Justice, and Inclusive Excellence will help you reflect on their values, identities, and roles in order to empower you to become an authentic leaders, just as you are.
Mental Health Awareness as a Leader
Jeannie Lee | Conference Center 225
Coming out of Covid, we've seen increased social anxiety and depression, and mental health and loneliness are at an all-time low. As a leader, it's absolutely necessary to be aware of your own mental health as well as of those you are leading and mentoring. Learn some practical skills and share resources about how to maintain wellness in the midst of daily life stressors.
Breakout Session #2: 12:40PM-1:40PM
From Conformity to Creativity: Transform Your Leadership Style
Violet Walker, Daniel Guel, Faatimah Mehmood, & Kendra Williams | Conference Center 110
In today’s evolving professional landscape, authenticity in leadership is more crucial than ever. Our workshop, From Conformity to Creativity: Transform Your Leadership Style, is designed to empower student professionals to embrace their true selves while confronting the challenges posed by traditional professional environments. This engaging session will provide participants with actionable strategies for leading with authenticity and confidence. We will dive deep into the complexities faced by students and professionals of color, who often encounter pressures to conform to established norms that may not align with their genuine identities. By addressing these realities, we aim to equip attendees with tools to assert their unique perspectives and strengths in their professional journeys. Central to the workshop is our Four Corners activity, which will encourage students to engage deeply with the workshop’s themes and with each other, sparking meaningful discussions and reflections on personal and collective experiences. Join us to explore how you can lead with integrity and resilience, create inclusive spaces, and support each other in the quest to be your best selves in any professional setting.
Identity Check: Leading with Authenticity
Minerva Carrillo Ortega & Pricilla Cardenas | Conference Center 210
During this workshop, students will explore the multifaceted components of their identities and how these influence their leadership style. They will reflect on their privileged and marginalized identities, gaining a deeper understanding of how these aspects shape their approach to leadership, and helping them lead with greater awareness and authenticity. After students complete an identity wheel activity, we will discuss factors such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and cultural backgrounds. The goal of our session is to empower students to lead with authenticity and embrace their intersectional perspectives.
Navigating Higher Education: Building Leadership & Resilience
Jose Medina III | Conference Center 215
This engaging workshop explores key elements essential for success in higher education: leadership, resilience, and managing failure. Participants will embark on a reflective journey through my personal experiences in higher education, including overcoming imposter syndrome and navigating challenges. The session will delve into the definition of leadership, discuss qualities of effective leaders, and offer practical strategies for developing leadership skills. We'll define resilience and share strategies for building it, using interactive elements to encourage personal reflection and sharing. The workshop will also cover the concept of a growth mindset, illustrate its benefits, and provide examples of how it can transform setbacks into growth opportunities. Attendees will learn about the support systems available at UC Merced and receive practical tips on taking initiative in both academic and professional settings. By the end of the session, participants will have a clearer understanding of how to cultivate leadership, embrace resilience, and approach failure as a learning opportunity. Join us for a dynamic and interactive session aimed at equipping you with the tools to thrive in higher education and beyond.
Intersectionality: Why Your Identity Matters
Hala Alnagar | Granite Pass 130
Our identities shape our lived experiences and equip us with a unique expertise that cannot be replicated; however, we are usually not taught how to leverage our unique lived experience to advocate for ourselves and others. Participants in this workshop will learn the following: 1) the history of “intersectionality” and its roots in social justice; 2) the complexity of privilege and marginalization and where our identities fit in this framework; and 3) how to leverage one’s own privilege and marginalization to combat systems of oppression. Developing an understanding of one’s own lived experience – and in particular the complex relationship we each have with privilege – is one step towards becoming an empathetic leader. This workshop will introduce participants to some helpful tools and frameworks to begin this practice of self-reflection.
Authentic Leadership: Letting Your Identity Shine
Lorena Mejia & Nick Mundwiller | Granite Pass 115
In this workshop Lorena Mejia and Nick Mundwiller from the Division of Equity, Justice, and Inclusive Excellence will help you reflect on their values, identities, and roles in order to empower you to become an authentic leaders, just as you are.
Mental Health Awareness as a Leader
Jeannie Lee | Conference Center 225
Coming out of Covid, we've seen increased social anxiety and depression, and mental health and loneliness are at an all-time low. As a leader, it's absolutely necessary to be aware of your own mental health as well as of those you are leading and mentoring. Learn some practical skills and share resources about how to maintain wellness in the midst of daily life stressors.
Empowering, Equipping, & Encouraging Student Leaders
Jim Greenwood | Granite Pass 155
Empowering, Equipping and Encouraging student leaders is like a juggling act. Once you determine (catch) one of the E’s it is easier to help support student’s events, activities, and ideas. After years of meeting with students I have learned if you can determine one of the 3 E's it is easier to support and help the others. It's like a juggling act. Are you helping to empower, equip and encourage your future leaders.
Questions? Reach out to us at lead@ucmerced.edu
