1st Edition

College Student Leadership Development

By Valerie I. Sessa Copyright 2017
    230 Pages
    by Routledge

    230 Pages
    by Routledge

    College Student Leadership Development introduces the idea that we all play a part in producing leadership and that learning how to participate in the process of leadership is something that all college students need to learn as part of their college academic experience. Rather than approaching leadership from the traditional model emphasizing specific skill sets, this book acquaints students with how to learn leadership using the ReAChS model of leadership development (Reflection, Assessment, Challenge, Support). It then encourages students to directly engage their own experiences to hone their leader identity and understanding of leadership as well as improve their leadership knowledge and skills. Step-by-step exercises lead students in reflecting on their experiences, assessing themselves, choosing challenges, creating support networks, and finally capturing and communicating to others what they have learned. Throughout, examples of student leaders’ experiences provide readers with powerful examples of others’ successes and struggles in leadership alongside the latest psychological research on learning and development.

    1. Starting with You 

    Part I: Fundamentals 

    2. All the Learning that Students Experience in College 

    3. Learning Leadership 

    Part II: ReAChS Model 

    4. Reflection 

    5. Assessment: Prompting your Readiness to Learn 

    6. The Fires of Experience: Challenging Experiences 

    7. When Other People Matter: People who Significantly Impact your Leadership Learning 

    8. Leadership Courses and Formal Leadership Development Programs as Key Leadership Learning Events 

    9. Using Challenges that Life Throws Us: Hardships as Key Learning Events 

    10. Making the Most of your Key Experiences 

    11. Your Support Network for Leadership Development 

    Part III: Capturing and Telling your Leadership Development Story 

    12. Bringing it All Together: Telling your Leadership Development Story

    Biography

    Valerie I. Sessa is a Professor and Graduate Program Coordinator in the Department of Psychology at Montclair State University. Prior to MSU, she worked as a research scientist and director at the Center for Creative Leadership.

     

    'In working with college students, I believe the most important thing for them to understand is that everyone can be a leader. This book communicates that and helps students learn about themselves in a way that will assist them as they understand their own leadership. They’ll be able to see how their college experience helps them become better leaders and then consider how to use that beyond their campus into their professional lives'—Shelly Morris Mumma, Director of Leadership, Student Engagement & First Year Experience and Campus Center, St. Norbert College

    'This is not your typical leadership development book for college students. College Student Leadership Development so wonderfully addresses "how" students should learn leadership by drawing on Sessa’s vast experience and research. The book successfully accomplishes what every leadership educator and student hopes for: an insightful and rich model to give emerging leaders a process to learn about leadership.'—Matthew Sowcik, Assistant Professor of Leadership Education, University of Florida