1. FIRST YEAR LEADERS INSPIRED TO EXCELLENCE
HDF 190:
FIRST YEAR LEADERS INSPIRED TO EXCELLENCE
LEADERSHIP PORTFOLIO
Susannah Johnson
Spring 2015

2. Table of Contents Strengths and Values SLIDE 3
Opening Statement SLIDE 4
Section 1: Self Leadership SLIDE 5
Section 2: Leadership Theories SLIDE 6
Section 3: Inclusive Leadership SLIDE 7
Section 4: Critical Thinking SLIDE 8
Section 5: Interpersonal/Organizational Leadership SLIDE 9
Intro. presentation topics:
Getting involved, gaining skills, meeting new people/a community of leaders, finding your niche

3. Values in Action Strengths
Top Gallup Strengths
Achiever
Restorative
Responsibility
Focus
Futuristic
Values in Action Strengths
Honesty
Teamwork
Gratitude
Kindness
Prudence
Selling point: Why they should be involved in the Minor/our programs?
Our graduating seniors had a 3.63 GPA. You can be involved and have a fantastic GPA. Half were also in Honor’s and/or Greek Life.
It’s about being in a community of people who want to make a difference – it’s about support and knowing the people to help you get want you want accomplished – starting TODAY! 3

4. Opening Statement
I chose to be involved in the Leadership Program at the University of Rhode Island because it has help me discover and shape my strengths and values. As well as learning about my strengths and values, I have learned how to use those successfully when leading and working with a group of my peers. Through the Leadership Program, my views on what it means to be a leader has completely changed how I look at leadership and myself as a leader and developed some the closest relationships that I have made during my college experience so far. 
Great things to be able to answer by the time you get ready for interviews…these are the things that people come to college for!
Gain REAL experience in order to lead in your field of study! 4

5. Section 1: Self Leadership
Outcome 3. Student will demonstrate the ability to manage emotions.
Target Class: HDF 190; Additional Experience: Leadership Institute
Descriptive Notes: Through attending the URI Leadership Institute in August 2014, I learned how to connect with a completely new group of people while learning about myself, but also how to better empathize with others and their own personal journeys. I was able to better empathize with others because when I heard other people’s struggles, it made me realize that many aspects of their journey, I also went through which helped me build a closer connect to those in my group. It made me feel not so alone in such a new environment with so many new people and made the URI community feel so much smaller and more connected. This empathy allowed me to put my experience to use to be able to support others who needed advice and guidance when I had been through a similar situation. When going through this experience, I managed my own emotions by trusting in those in my group that they would always be there for me during the Institute. When we got back onto campus, I realized how special my connection with that group was. It was so special because we all had a mutual respect and trust in one another for where we came from and what parts of our lives made us who we are.
The are both academic and co-curricular opportunities. 5

6. Section 2: Leadership Theory and Models
Outcome 27. Student will describe personal application of the above theory (Greenleaf)
Target Class: HDF 190; Additional Experience: Volunteer at AmpSurf
Descriptive Notes: I personally connect deeply to this model because I enjoy giving back and volunteering my time to serve others. The two characteristics that I connect the most to are empathy and conceptualization. I think that empathy is important to being a servant leader because you must be open minded and accepting of those you are serving in order to gain their trust and serve them to the best of your ability. You must have the ability to actively listen and recognize people for their strengths and their differences is what makes a group unique and more successful. Conceptualization shows the group how dedicated their leader is, helping to build the group’s trust in their leader. A servant leader must be dedicated and committed to the overall success of their group and their ability to achieve goals while adapting to different situations that might arise while working and still keeping the group focused and on task.
  I have applied this theory when working with the outreach organization, AmpSurf, which teaches those with disabilities, especially veterans, how to surf. I have volunteered with AmpSurf for the past three years and have enjoyed helping people with disabilities learn how to surf and discover something new that they never thought they could do. When working with participants, I use empathy and conceptualization from the Servant Leadership model in order to gain their trust so they feel confortable enough to let me help them in water. One of my favorite parts about working with participants is learning their personal story so I can learn about who they are, but also expand my knowledge to enhance who I am as a person and as a leader. Doing this give me the ability to serve them and make sure they have the most enjoyable experience as possible.
The are both academic and co-curricular opportunities. 6

7. Section 3: Inclusive Leadership / Diversity
Outcome 81. Student will show knowledge of effective leadership as it relates to change agency
Target Class: HDF 190 – Social Change Model
Descriptive Notes: A change agent is defined as someone who display the perseverance, discipline, and abilities to help inspire and execute a positive change. Change agency is a part of the social change model developed to solve problems by addressing them at their root cause to make a lasting and positive change in an inclusive community. A change agent should have the ability to be three things: understand, have an open mind, and be an example to others. When working to understand, they should recognize that helping to cause change is a process, and they must be adaptable to obstacles that come their way, expect resistance on their journey to creating change, and plan ahead of time for possible obstacles to be able to overcome them more efficiently. Being open minded is important when being a change agent because you must be positive, confident, and believe that change can be made, be comfortable with situations that are unclear and work to make them understandable, and be willing to think outside of them box to think of possible situations that could make a change. Finally, a change agent should demonstrate to a group a common goal that must be achieved promptly, while possessing the ability to communicate that vision and the process the group might go through to achieve their objective. Most importantly, all members working to create a change in their community must have the desire and passion to want to make a difference because that will show through your work and final product of change.
The are both academic and co-curricular opportunities. 7

8. Section 4: Critical Thinking
Outcome 98. Student will describe examples of leadership in crisis situations
Target Class: HDF 190 – Servant Leadership Model
Descriptive Notes: An example that I think best shows an example of leadership in crisis is the people who selflessly stepped up and helped those who were suffering when the Boston Marathon bombing occurred two years ago. I remember hearing about the bombing and instantly thinking of the dozens of people I knew who were there as participants and as spectators and hoping that they were all not affected. Those who stepped up and ran into the chaos I think is an example of leadership. They did not care about their own well being, the only thing they thought about was helping those in need. This is an example of servant leadership because they are serving others before themselves and they chose to run into an unknown situation to help in any way they could. As a result, these leaders saved the lives of many because they made a choice to put others first. Many people who helped were just spectators that had the innate feeling to make a difference in someone else’s life. My mom, who at the time was nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital, when she heard about the bombing immediately called into work to see they needed her or if she could help in any way possible. To me, I think she is another example of a servant leader because she chose to call and potentially go into work on a day she had off to help those in need. Her initial instinct was to be there for victims and serve anyway she could.
The are both academic and co-curricular opportunities. 8

9. Section 5: Interpersonal and Organizational Concepts and Skills
Outcome 110. Student will describe personal examples of organizing meetings/setting agendas/leading meetings
Additional Experience: Preparing for the Pan Mass Challenge
Descriptive Notes: This past summer, my mom participated in the Pan Mass Challenge (PMC). The PMC is a two-day, 192-mile long bike ride from Sturbridge, MA to Provincetown on the tip of Cape Cod. It has been a goal of my mom’s to participate and complete the ride for many years and it was amazing to watch her achieve her goal and now watch her begin her training again. My part in the whole process is what she calls “pit crew director” where I coordinate what rest stops my family and I will visit her at, my driving routes to follow her along at certain sections, and my lodging for the race weekend as well as managing the members of my family and their jobs during the weekend. I held and lead meetings with my family to make sure everyone knew they had to be and what to bring to each stop. A few weeks before the race, I hold meetings with and exchange s with the members of my family that want to see and support her. I schedule them to each to be at a different rest stop along the race route so my mom has support along the way and it makes the days go by a little faster. To prepare for the race, I also worked with my mom to organize her practice rides and plan her routes so I would know where she would be incase of an emergency. For part of her longer training rides, I would drive five miles ahead of her, stop, and wait for her to meet me. We did this for 30 miles sometimes to make sure she felt prepared and supported.
The are both academic and co-curricular opportunities. 9