This year’s Student Leadership Development Series (SLDS) started off on Feb. 22. The introductory workshop featured Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln as its guest speaker. It marks the second year that the mayor of Stockton has spoken at this event, giving students the chance to meet with a community leader. Talking about his experience being a team, Lincoln says, “The stronger the leadership that we have, the better our communities and environments that we find ourselves will be in.” That is, in essence, the intention behind SLDS.
The SLDS began in 2019, when Shalya Walker, the director of Student Activities, became aware of the lack of interactions between students and school leaders.
“When I became the director of student activities, students came up to me and said that there wasn’t enough leadership learning,” said Walker. “They wanted to meet and talk with people who are making an impact.”
SLDS is a series of six workshops that allows for students to interact with leaders on campus and in the community.
“We want a diverse range of speakers that can address a variety of life experiences,” said Cassie Findlay, student activities coordinator and the main organizer this year. “We don’t want any student to feel left out.”
At the end of each workshop, a half hour Q&A period gives students the time to ask the speaker questions. The student is then given a survey that asks them to rate their experience and what they learned. If students attend every workshop in the series, they are given a certificate.
“It helps students stand out, and gives them professional and academic opportunities,” said Walker.