TU students get real-life experience in leadership
Three-tiered leadership program connects students with Baltimore nonprofits
By Kyle Hobstetter on May 31, 2023
Leadership development is a cornerstone of the Towson University student experience. And the Office of Student Activities is providing real-world opportunities through its Tigers Lead program.
The program, which began in 2021, guides students in discovering themselves as leaders and developing critical and tangible leadership skills and strategies through hands-on activities and critical dialogue.
This past spring, five students participated in Tigers Lead’s third tier and were the first to complete the entire program. In Tier 3, students worked with The Be. Org, a nonprofit led by TU alum Tonee Lawson ‘07 that focuses on youth development in Baltimore, to help them develop a leadership plan for the organization’s new hires.
“After the focus group following the presentation to The Be. Org, the students responded in an overwhelmingly positive way,” says Carolyn Harris, director of student activities and one of the coaches of Tigers Lead. “Of all the tiers they participated in, Tier 3 was the most challenging, requiring them to trust in the learning and development process and lean into their past experiences.”
Students spent 10 weeks working with the nonprofit, including meeting with tenured employees at their offices in downtown Baltimore. There were discussions about what the current employees would have liked to understand when they started, among other topics.
One of the participating students was Ron Robinson, a junior business administration major. He initially joined Tigers Lead to get involved on campus. But he continued to work through the tiers because it was helping him toward his future.
“[Tigers Lead} was invaluable,” Robinson says. “I was able to work with a real-life nonprofit and see how their business is run, how they talk to each other and what they value as an organization. Being able to see that firsthand, especially as a business major, gave me a grasp on how these types of organizations are run.”
The program uses the Social Change Model of Leadership, which is a highly regarded theorem on how to help college students impact the world. The program takes participants through strategic levels of self-awareness, identity, purpose and community.
In Tier 1, student leaders focused on their individual-level values of consciousness of self, congruence and commitment. They participated in workshops that helped them define leadership, identify their core values and connect with others with different backgrounds.
Tier 2 had students participating in an activity involving the rock climbing wall in Burdick Hall. The partnership with Campus Recreation allowed participants to face fears, encourage teammates and reflect on their participation in the activity.
“Tigers Lead is a constructive and intentional way for students to formally learn about leadership,” Harris says. “The experiences provided through Tigers Lead allow student leaders space to be challenged by their own experiences and supported by the TU staff.”
Imani Perry was another to complete all three tiers. The junior electronic media and film major said Tier 3 was her favorite because it pushed her to think outside the box.
“Everybody is a leader, you just need guidance on it,” Perry says. “Through Tigers Lead, I was able to learn how your values and leadership tool belt help you understand what being a leader is. Through the different tiers, I’ve learned what it truly means to be a leader.”