“It’s More Than Just a Phase”

The Dynamic Leadership Institute, known to many as simply DLI, is designed to teach students the interpersonal skills and knowledge needed to engage in various leadership roles on campus, within the community, and in their futures.  Each of the four phases allows the student to view leadership from different perspectives and provides opportunities to examine and enhance their skills.

Phase I – Leadership Initiative

This phase is designed to enhance participants’ basic leadership skills and abilities.  The participants represent diverse ages, interests, and levels of leadership abilities.  The Institute’s program includes leadership seminars designed to address a wide array of topics, such as: problem solving, diversity, leadership styles, teambuilding, personality, and vision. 

Phase II – Leadership Exploration & Discovery

This phase focuses on each individual’s self exploration as a leader.  During this phase, each participant will have the opportunity to discover their strengths and areas for improvement in regards to their personal leadership styles.  Topics for this phase include: situational leadership, consensus building, global diversity, conflict resolution, and emotional intelligence.  Participants will begin to better understand themselves as leaders and how they work with others.

Phase III – Leadership in Action

This phase gives participants the opportunity to use the knowledge and skills learned in the first two phases and put them into action.  In a team environment, participants will be challenged to use their leadership skills and abilities to address a different case study each week.  In addition, StrengthsQuest and The Leadership Challenge assessments are used to continue the study of their personal leadership styles.

Phase IV – Leadership in the Real World

This phase focuses on leadership in the “real world.”  Topics and activities will address professionalism, career preparation, networking, transitioning, etiquette, alumni opportunities and philanthropy.  After completion of this phase, students will be better prepared to make the transition from campus leader to new professional/community leader.

To apply to the Dynamic Leadership Institute:

• Fall 2008 DLI Application (pdf format)

A special retreat is conducted each fall for selected campus leaders to transfer inforamtion, focus on special topics, and promote campus unity. This retreat is part of an invaluable process that helps ensure student groups and their leaders are working toward the same goal...a better WKU!

Weekend in the Woods 2008: October 10-11
applications are available in DUC 325

Sponsored by the Office of Diversity Programs and the Dynamic Leadership Institute, this annual off campus retreat provides an opportunity for minority students to examine campus leadership issues. This weekend conference addresses challenges facing minority student organizations and focuses upon group success strategies.

Each semester, the Dynamic Leadership Institute sponsors a High School Leadership Conference. Students from across Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio and Indiana come together to obtain information, insight, and an understanding of leadership dynamics. Participants attend sessions presented by WKU staff and student leaders. The conference focuses on the importance of leadership and how to stay active within programs on high school campuses.

• HSLC Webpage
• High School Leadership Conference Online Form

Up ‘til Dawn is a college fundraising event, sponsored by the Student Volunteer Bureau, in which all efforts benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Students, faculty, and staff work to raise money throughout the fall semester through a letter writing campaign and other fundraising events. At the final event, which takes place in the Preston Health and Activities Center, all those who raised money stay up all night, with the notion that cancer never sleeps. Bands, blow-up games, movie, food and many other activities are provided to keep people awake and energized. For more information contact the executive board at uptildawn@hotmail.com.

Patient Story
Tori Hopkins
2 years old

Diagnosis:
Tori was discovered to have neuroblastoma in June 2006.

Tori’s Story:
One night when she was just 13 months, Tori cried out suddenly in pain. Thinking their youngest daughter was tired or coming down with something, her parents, Jessica and Jack, decided to calm her with a warm bath. But once in the water, Tori couldn’t sit up or keep her face out of the water. Immediately, her parents’ worry turned to alarm. They took Tori to the local emergency room, but initial X-rays revealed nothing serious. When doctors finally performed a CT scan a day later, it revealed a tumor behind Tori's kidney called neuroblastoma, a common solid tumor of childhood. Doctors immediately referred the family to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for treatment.

At St. Jude:
At St. Jude, doctors found Tori suffered from stage 4 high-risk neuroblastoma. They also discovered Tori had a broken leg. The fracture had been caused by pressure from the tumor spreading to the bones near her knee. Despite this devastating news, Jessica said they felt immediately at ease at St. Jude. “Unless you’ve been at another hospital, you really can’t understand the difference between St. Jude and everywhere else,” she said.

The American Cancer Society has many activities that raise money for cancer research, and Relay for Life is one of their signature events. Each spring WKU holds a Relay for Life celebration at the track surrounding L.T. Smith Stadium. Teams participating in this twelve hour event raise money throughout the spring semester. This event is a great way for students, faculty, and staff to come together for a wonderful cause.

American Cancer Society Facts*

• The American Cancer Society funds 32 grants in the Mid-South Division that totals $14,752,500.
• 16.5 million people visit the American Cancer Society website per year.
• “By 2015, the American Cancer Society aims to prevent almost five million additional deaths from cancer, avoid six million new cancer diagnoses, and measurably improve the quality of life for those with the disease.”

*Facts provided by the American Cancer Society.

 

Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society, was founded on December 3, 1914 at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia by 15 students and faculty leaders. The Western Kentucky University chapter was founded in 1971. ODK recognizes students who have reached junior or senior status and have excelled in one or more of the following areas: Scholarship, Athletics, Campus/Community Service, Mass Media, and Creative/Performing Arts.

Two alternative breaks are held throughout the school year, one during WKU’s fall break and one during spring break. During these trips, students perform various community service projects. Past experiences include trips across the United States working with Habitat for Humanity. During fall break, students traveled to help with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Students are selected on their previous community service work and their level of involvement.

Every fall the Dynamic Leadership Institute and the Office of Leadership & Volunteerism collaborate with other departments on campus for the annual Leadership Celebration Week. Each day highlights a variety of leadership activities on campus and gives students a better idea of WKU leadership opportunities. The goal is to target a broader section of campus by offering different activities and events throughout the week. This is a chance to celebrate leadership on WKU’s campus!