The Emerging Leaders program, sponsored by New Student & Family Programs, is an exciting and engaging leadership development program designed for first-year students and others seeking to enhance their leadership skills.

This eight-week leadership series aims to build and develop students' leadership skills, team building abilities, leadership knowledge base, and self-awareness. The program challenges students to view leadership from a different perspective while gaining skills that will lead to positive, effective change in their communities.

Each semester, students and staff from across campus volunteer their time to help facilitate the program. Undergraduate student leaders interview for a place as a small group leader. Graduate students and staff members also apply. This February, sixteen students and staff were selected as the facilitators for the spring cohorts of the program.

All of the facilitators bring a wide variety of experiences and perspectives to the program. Emerging Leaders would not be able to offer as strong of a connection to the campus community for the student participants without the assistance of these students and staff. Spring facilitators include:

• Asher Morgan – coordinator of Substance Abuse Prevention, Pat Walker Health Center

• Ayesha Patel – vice chair of Service Committee, Walton Honors Student Executive Board; Yvonne Richardson Community Center volunteer; Walton College Finance Association; Walton Honors Program; CLASS+ (Tutor)

• Brandon Brown – returning Emerging Leaders facilitator

• Brandon Payne – R.O.C.K. Camp student coordinator of programming; CRU Community Group Leader

• Chantel Moseby – graduate student in higher education

• Darsha Dodge – Delta Phi Alpha (National German Honors Society); German Club, English Conversation Club Leader; iFriend Campus Cousin; International Culture Team, representing Germany; University of Arkansas Razorback Color Guard

• Garrett Jeter – Graduate Student Congress representative; Veterans Affairs spokesperson; Arkansas University Advisory Committee; University Programs Coffeehouse Committee; iFriend International Hosting program

• Iyana Butler – volunteer chair for Students Advocating Stronger Sisterhood Executive Board; Welcome Weeks Crew; R.O.C.K Camp mentor

• Jazmine Griswold – Students Advocating Stronger Sisterhood; Friday Night Live volunteer, Black Student Association

• Kennedy Harris – Parent Ambassador, Students Advocating Stronger Sisterhood, Black Student Association

• Leonides Moreno – HogWild Band, Latin American Music Ensemble, University Volleyball Club, Spanish Conversation Partner, Panamanian Student Organization ("Conjunto de Proyecciones Folcloricas Viva Panama"), Student Alumni Association, Hispanic Association of Civil Engineers, International Student Organization, International Culture Team

• Samantha Hellman - Volunteer Action Center Food Pantry volunteer

• Savannah Ping - Alpha Phi Omega (President), Friday Night Live Student Coordinator (Event Management)

• Shelby Pieper - Graduate Assistant for Graduate Student Career Planning (University of Arkansas Career Development Center)

• Victoria Fields - Lead Hogs, S.T.O.R.E, American Marketing Association, Black Student Association, Student Alumni Association

• Yvonne Dominguez - Academic Enrichment Program, Student Support Services, Diversity Impact Host

For more information about the Emerging Leaders program, please contact Matthew Meyers in New Student & Family Programs at mgmeyers@uark.edu or by phone at 575-5002. Information can also be found at leadership.uark.edu.