CLCO speakers share stories of leading through uncertainty

Update | Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Pictured, clockwise from top left, Kadiatou Camara, Susan Goeschl, Genevieve Sharron, Darius Torrence, Abdi Jam, and Hadeel Qadri, during the CLCO conference on November 13.  Goeschl, Sharron, and Jam each work in Student Engagement & Leadership. The other three participants are students. 

Student Engagement & Leadership held a landmark Collegiate Leadership Conference of Ohio (CLCO) last month. The 11th annual event was held virtually on November 13 due to the pandemic. The theme was "Meeting the 2020 Challenge: Leading Through Uncertainty.” Brett Welsh, director of the Global Diversity & Inclusion Center, shared a harrowing story from his past during a sudden winter storm. 

In 2005, Welsh led a youth group on a ski trip in the North Carolina mountains. A blizzard swept in suddenly as the group was about to drive up the steep elevation. Welsh was alone in a vehicle after the rest of the group had already gone up the mountain in a large van. He managed to make the treacherous drive to the top, which overlooked steep drop-offs at several points. Welsh says, “The lesson I provided to students in last month’s conference is that as a leader, sometimes all you can do is make the best decision you can with the information you have. There isn't always a clear answer or a risk-free solution. You must use your best judgment, be brave, and have a little faith.” 

Other inspiring messages for the nearly 60 attendees came from former Student Ambassador Darius Torrence, Vice President of Advising & Student Support Desiree Polk-Bland, Business Programs Professor Reuel Barksdale, and Delaware Campus Dean Tina Diggs. 

In addition to the speakers, Student Engagement would like to thank others who made the event possible, including Megan Barr and August Polen in the Columbus State Bookstore, for their support by creating and safely distributing gift bags to the attendees.  

 

 

Go to 2020 Update Archive Go to Employee Update