At Saturday's conference, President Hunter Rawlings talks with students, including James Taharos '98, center.
About 100 students, faculty and staff gathered Saturday for the third annual Public Service Leadership Conference on campus. The daylong conference in the Willard Straight Hall Memorial Room was conceived and implemented by the student Leadership Development Committee of the Public Service Center, and it included a wide variety of programs set to the theme "Living as Leaders."
The conference kickoff included a welcome from committee representatives, followed by an opening address by Valerie Ching '93. As an undergraduate, Ching founded the Community Partnership Fund Board and was active in the network of leaders who helped to start the Public Service Center. She spoke to participants about leadership role models and mentors, and encouraged them to strive to make a difference in the lives of others, no matter how small the impact may seem.
Much of the day consisted of a series of workshops, from which students chose the topics of most interest to them. Workshops were facilitated by Public Service Leadership Fellows, faculty and staff. Topics included fund-raising, conflict resolution, multicultural issues, pressures of leadership and ethics.
Participants found the workshops to be informative, motivational, and allowed them to network with other leaders. Janet Garcia '97 was pleased that she could "apply the concepts learned at the workshops not only in the organizations that we're currently involved with, but most importantly in our current and future lives," she said.
The conference concluded with closing remarks by President Hunter Rawlings. He praised student attendees for their dedication as leaders in the public service arena, remarking that "leadership is hard work." He challenged them to strive, both now and in the future, to serve as ethical leaders and to make their everyday choices with integrity. He followed his remarks with a question-and-answer session, addressing such issues as what he is most proud of at Cornell and what leaders he most admires.
Afterward, Brian Palmer '99 said, "President Rawlings' appearance gave a great deal of legitimacy to the conference, and his comments were appropriate and thought-provoking."
In addition to the annual conference, the Leadership Development Committee of the Public Service Center offers a yearlong workshop series, videotapes of conference workshop and a fellows program for individuals interested in leadership. For more information, visit the Public Service Center at 200 Barnes Hall, or phone 255-1148.