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Leadership Programs

Peer Leadership Instructors

Testimonials

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Being a PLI is an experience that you can't copy. It's helped me to be able to see just how a diverse group of students from different backgrounds can create a dynamic that has such a profound impact on first year students. PLI has helped enhanced professional skills. As a result of this experience I am more confident presenting to peers, have better organizational and time management skills, etc.
~ Bruce Noelte Jr.

Becoming a PLI has given me the opportunity to become part of something more intimate here on campus. Establishing oneself within such a large community can be intimidating, but this program has helped me gain confidence while improving my leadership skills. I encourage everyone to look into this program!
~ Allison Magdefrau

Being a PLI presented me with my strengths and weaknesses at the most crucial of times. I got an opportunity to interact with amazing people and truly develop as a leader. Granted there was a substantial amount of work associated with the position the rewards were far greater.
~ Camille Patterson

I have attended countless leadership retreats, and attended more than enough classes and programs that have the intention of teaching leadership and communication skills. All of these have one thing in common; they require the absolute epitome of leadership capabilities and applications. This program is has given to me not only new skills to practice and use, but the opportunity to share these skills and practice them with a seminar of younger students that are currently in a position that I have found myself in at some point in my life. I constantly remind myself that my FYE students are exactly where I was a few years ago, and are very likely having the same feelings of inquiry that I once had. It is this reiteration upon reiteration of the basics of 'opening your mind' that give me a relatively clear insight into the decisions I make in the present and the future. These leadership skills enable me to better influence and help others both at work and in academic situations. Perhaps the best way to describe the answer to the question "How has the Leadership Development program helped me?" is to restate the idea that we try to teach our students; "I don't know why, I just know."

I honestly believe this program is absolutely excellent, and is a huge breath of fresh air in the midst of such a large University as the University of Connecticut. It is a true sanctuary where people who share common attributes, aspirations, and goals can unite together to improve upon the very fabric of what a leader truly is. The best part is, through the PLI program, we can spread this knowledge throughout the earliest generation of UConn students in an attempt to actively engage them into making a proactive effort to determine who they really are. Instead of asking the students to define the absolute characteristics of a leader, we ask them "What are the characteristics that you think a leader could possess?" because creative problem solving, abstract thinking, and self-realization of continuous improvement is the starting block of creating the leaders of today and for the future.
~ Brad Sedito

This experience taught me more about myself than I could have ever expected. Facilitating something as powerful as leadership this past semester introduced me to my own potential and has enhanced my personal skills. Ultimately, Peer Leadership Instructing has been one of the most rewarding and satisfying learning environments I have ever been involved in. The lessons we learned and taught, and the friendships I have made will remain with me forever.
~ Tyson Carter