Leadership development is part of the fabric of life at Dartmouth, and a newly launched Summer Leadership Program builds on that, empowering participants with the skills they need to drive culture change on campus and throughout their lives.
The pilot program is led by the Office of Student Life and coordinated by Assistant Dean for Student Life Jenny Adams. Created in response to widespread student interest in expanded leadership training early in their Dartmouth careers, it is open to student leaders on campus for Sophomore Summer, and focuses on creating community, navigating conflict, and getting things done at Dartmouth.
Built into the program are opportunities for participants to refine their definitions of leadership, unpacking “who they are, what their values are, and how they envision themselves leading,” within their organizations and beyond, Adams says. Students also connect and cross-pollinate ideas over shared meals.
The inaugural 50-member cohort represents a variety of organizations, including the Class of 2027 Class Council, club sports, the Council on Student Organizations, Greek life, and several outdoor programs.
Loralei Forgette ’27, who holds leadership positions with the 2027 Class Council and student-run Programming Board, and is summer president for Kappa Delta, says working with other campus leaders has been a highlight.
“We all have a great deal to learn from one another, as while there may be some overlap in our roles, the lessons we take away from navigating our different experiences may vary,” says Forgette, who is majoring in both economics and anthropology modified with global health. “We are able to come together and work as a team, sharing our own insights while listening to others.”
Initiated by Student Affairs in Arts and Sciences and expanded in collaboration with Athletics, Community and Campus Life, the Native American Program, the Outdoor Programs Office, and the Student Wellness Center, the leadership program “is truly a cross-campus partnership,” Adams says.
The program kicked off in early July, coinciding with the first phase of implementation of the new School of Arts and Sciences, which brings together the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Division of Undergraduate Education, and the Division of Undergraduate Student Affairs.
“This initiative draws on the broad and deep expertise of our community and embodies Dartmouth’s commitment to preparing our students for a lifetime of learning and responsible leadership,” says Interim Dean of Arts and Sciences Nina Pavcnik. “This is exactly the kind of collaboration that enriches student experience and growth that I believe will continue to flourish with the new school.”
Continuous learning
Students receive a LinkedIn badge for completing the training, which includes an online assignment that asks how their values align with those of their organizations. Students also developed an “elevator pitch” that summarized what their group stands for and why someone might join it.
The three required sessions took place at Common Ground in the Collis Student Center. The first, facilitated by Katie Colleran, Outdoor Programs director, and Adria Brown, director of the Native American Program, addressed community-building, with an emphasis on peer leadership, positive camaraderie, consensus building, and how an individual’s values can influence their community.
Navigating and Adapting Difficult Conversations, led by the Student Wellness Center and Sexual Violence Prevention Program facilitators Andre Betancur and Margaret Maurer, looked at strategies for managing conflict with individuals, groups, and the institution.
And Navigating Dartmouth to Get Things Done, facilitated by David Pack, director of student involvement, was designed to equip student leaders with the skills and knowledge to navigate institutional systems and bureaucracy; build relationships with necessary partners, including administration; and achieve their goals within the college structure.
The Office of Greek Life and Student Societies held a complementary retreat for the presidents and risk managers from each chapter on July 12. The daylong session focused on values-based leadership, community standards, and power dynamics.
In addition to the required sessions, students in the Summer Leadership Program also take part in at least one related activity, such as an upcoming workshop on activism and advocacy sponsored by the Office of Pluralism and Leadership, or the new Sophomore Summer Soiree on July 31, part of Dartmouth Dialogues.
Participant William Lulka ’27, who is majoring in government modified with economics, says learning how to build relationships with institutional systems has changed how he views leadership.
“Learning that there are different people in a broader organization, such as your allies, gatekeepers, and decision makers, that you need to build relationships with in order to implement successful change shifted my perspective on which qualities a leader needs,” says Lulka, president of Chi Heorot fraternity. “Also, this program has shown me that in order to be a great leader, I need to continuously learn which leadership qualities I have and which qualities I need to work on.”
‘Many ways to lead’
President Sian Leah Beilock highlighted the Summer Leadership Program in a letter welcoming students to Sophomore Summer, noting that “there are many ways to lead.”
“I see this embodied every day on our campus in large and small moments—like when you respectfully engage with someone who thinks differently than you, or offer help to someone who you don’t know at all,” President Beilock said. “These displays of kindness and open-mindedness are, in fact, leadership.”
Forgette says the program’s emphasis on leadership as a work in progress has shifted her perspective.
“It isn’t necessarily one right or wrong way to do something, but rather how to build on your own values and the values of your organization to create effective change,” she says. “I have participated in other leadership programs in the past, but this one was particularly beneficial because we were all able to approach the content from our perspectives.”
Looking ahead, Adams hopes that after completing the program, students have a clearer sense of who they are as leaders and feel empowered to use their skills in both formal and informal settings.
That might mean speaking up about something that goes against their values, or being able to work with others to make something better, she says. “It’s not necessarily about becoming the president of an organization, it’s about what you hope to do and take out into the world.”
Organizers will follow up with participants through regular check-ins and a focus group in the fall. Feedback from the inaugural session will help shape the program going forward.