Leadership development is an integral part of the Randolph-Macon College experience. RMC offers students a wealth of opportunities to learn about and engage in leadership. The Student Leadership Conference, the Leadership Fellows program, Leadership Week, and other programs prepare students to be the leaders of tomorrow. One example of the leadership training that RMC offers is the annual Bardwell Leadership Summit.

Essential Skills
Randolph-Macon College kicked off the year with its second-annual Bardwell Leadership Summit, which was held August 29, 2016 in Brock Commons. More than 120 student-leaders participated in the Summit, which was designed to provide hands-on training through workshops and lectures.

Named for former director of Residence Life Rodney Bardwell, the Summit offered students the opportunity to build leadership skills. Presenters included staff from the Student Engagement Center, which includes the Office of Student Life, Residence Life, and Student Conduct. Student-leaders—including resident assistants, orientation leaders, student organization assistants, tour guides, Student Government Association members, Commons Activities Board members, Higgins Academic Center tutors, and Student Engagement Center interns—participated in the Summit.

Jayme Watkins, director of Student Life, says leadership skills are essential in taking an active role in today’s world.

“Good leaders think critically, communicate well, and anticipate change,” says Watkins, who helped organize the event. “At the Summit, student-leaders participated in sessions about a variety of subjects: academic success, alcohol education, diversity and inclusion, Title IX and student conduct. These sessions provided students with the skills they will need to allow them, and those they work with, to be successful.”

Theory + Practice
James McGhee, assistant dean of students, is impressed by students’ commitment to become better leaders.

“Our students actively engage in the theory and practice of sound leadership,” says McGhee. “I am often amazed at how thoughtfully they engage with the material and with each other as they learn what it means to be a leader at RMC and in the greater community.”

Tara Balasubramanian ’18, a biology and French major and chemistry minor, says leadership is an essential part of the student experience.

“Leadership is more than having the ability to lead others,” she explains. “It’s knowing how to speak with and for a group without disregarding anyone’s ideas. It is also about helping others reach their potential while strengthening your own communication skills.” Balasubramanian, who serves as a Resident Assistant, strives to be a more effective leader by being open to discussions, emphasizing the importance of teamwork, and listening to her peers’ concerns.

“One of the most impactful moments at the Summit was Dean McGhee’s presentation, which focused on the importance of effective communication,” she says. “Through a series of exercises, Summit participants learned to speak to each other in more meaningful ways. It was a great way to improve communication skills and develop the ability to understand each other in a more empathetic way.”

Shalonda Moore ’17 is a political science major and member of RMC’s Leadership Fellows program.

“I had a wonderful experience at the Summit and each presentation taught me something different,” she says. “However, the Bystander Intervention presentation was particularly important. I learned to never assume that ‘someone else’ will do something in a crisis situation. I learned to look out for my safety, and to take measures to make sure others are safe. I will use the tools that I learned at the Summit to encourage others to take an active role in leadership.”