Feb 20 2010
College students from around the Capital Region converged on the world-class College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) today to discuss and hone their leadership skills as the UAlbany NanoCollege played host to the 2010 Capital Region Leadership Conference, sponsored and organized by the UAlbany chapter of ODK, the National Leadership Honor Society.
Student leaders from around the Capital Region heard a keynote address from New York State Chief Information Officer Dr. Melodie Mayberry-Stewart, Director of the NYS Office for Technology. In addition, several local leaders discussed the process of building their careers through the "How I Became a Leader" panel, and students built their campus and real world leadership skills through skill-building workshops and an etiquette lunch.
Speakers and presenters during the day also included Michael Swezey, brigadier general - NY Army National Guard (NYARNG) and assistant vice president/senior financial advisor at Merrill Lynch; anti-violence activist Charlie Muller, founder and pastor of Victory Christian Church; Lisbeth Calandrino, co-founder and vice president of Peachtree Communications; and Brandon Mendelson, the most-followed, non-celebrity, non-brand, non-media outlet on Twitter.
"We are pleased to again be able to provide this intensive leadership training institute for campus leaders at UAlbany, and around the Capital Region," said UAlbany ODK Chapter President Nicholas Fahrenkopf, a graduate student at CNSE. "Student leaders spend so much time leading on their campuses that a one-day retreat, particularly as it's held at the NanoCollege, the world's leading college for nanotechnology, is critical for them to bring their skills to the next level."
"The UAlbany NanoCollege is delighted to partner with the UAlbany Chapter of ODK to host student leaders at the 2010 Capital Region Leadership Conference," said CNSE Senior Vice President and CEO Dr. Alain E. Kaloyeros. "Amid the transformation of this region and state into a worldwide Mecca for nanotechnology education, innovation and economic growth, it is critical for students to develop 21st century leadership skills that will allow them to compete and succeed in the global high-technology economy. This conference offers a unique opportunity to support that effort, and we applaud ODK for its vision and collaboration."
"The effort to provide world-class preparation for our students to take on the leadership roles of tomorrow is necessarily central to the educational mission of the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, since we expect the students in our pioneering programs will be called upon to assume such roles," said CNSE Executive Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Richard Collier. "That endeavor extends beyond the classroom to supporting important opportunities for personal growth and professional development, as embodied by this conference, and involves partnerships with forward-thinking organizations such as ODK that share CNSE's vision for educating and training future state, national and world leaders in science and technology, among a host of disciplines."