Sponsored by the Krause Initiative, three graduate students attended the 5th Annual Leadership Conference in Charlotte, NC on November 11, 2006.  The theme of the Multicultural Leadership Conference was "Extend, Embrace, and Empower." 

Students were provided with basic and advanced leadership training.  The conference was designed to  cover academic, social, and cultural aspects of leadership.  Sessions focused a variety of topics, including valuing diversity, challenging stereotypes, and developing Emotional Intelligence.  

A graduate student describes her experience:

"I had a great time in North Carolina. The conference inspired me to improve my leadership skills. I love how the presenter encouraged us to drop assumptions that we have about people based on how they look and truly judge people based on the content of their character. The keynote speaker said that a leader has the power to influence and empower first him or herself and then others.  Most of the speakers were awesome and constantly stated how a positive attitude is essential in being an effective leader. I feel transformed and empowered by the information that I got from this conference. I also realize that there are some areas that I need to work on in becoming a better leader. Thank you so much."

                                              Maxine Brown, graduate student in the School Counseling program