Conference develops leadership of students

The University of North Georgia's (UNG) 16th annual Student Conference on Leadership is set for Feb. 3 in the Martha T. Nesbitt Academic Building at UNG's Gainesville Campus. It runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year's theme is "Level Up Your Leadership," and a gaming thread will run throughout the event. Students should sign up for the free event in UNG Connect by Jan. 31. 

Attendees will receive breakfast, lunch, a T-shirt, a canvas tote, and a water bottle for free. 

"UNG's annual Student Conference on Leadership is yet another fine example of how we uphold our commitment to developing leaders across the university and preparing them to be the best versions of themselves," Mallory Rodriguez, director of student leadership programs, said. "The conference plays an important role in fostering self-awareness, expanding leadership knowledge and providing networking opportunities." 

Andrew McPeak will serve as the keynote speaker, and a variety of students, faculty and staff will present breakout sessions at the conference.  

McPeak is a sought-after millennial communicator who brings a unique generational perspective to audiences. He is the co-author of Dr. Tim Elmore's latest book, "Generation Z Unfiltered," and he has shared insights from this resource with educators, coaches and business leaders around the country. Along with co-authoring "Marching Off the Map," McPeak also co-hosts the "Leading the Next Generation with Tim Elmore" podcast. McPeak serves as the vice president of content at Growing Leaders, where he and his team work closely with schools, universities and sports teams on effectively implementing Habitudes as a tool to teach life and leadership skills. 

"Leading in today's world is hard. With so many commitments and opportunities vying for our time, it can be difficult to decide what's most important," McPeak said. "I hope to start a conversation with all of those in attendance that will both awaken us to the potential inside of us and also challenge us to be our best. I guarantee it will be a lot of fun too." 

Students will have a chance to attend a total of three breakout sessions, with multiple options from which to choose: 

• Unleash the Power of LinkedIn, Steve Shepherd. 
• Confidently Emerge from Avoidant Leadership Styles, Jenna Wesson. 
• The Life-Long Benefit of a Mentor in the Business World, Jen Gardner, Anna Thompson, Luke Atwood, and Gabrielle Denkman. 
• Game of Life: Student Leader Edition, Dr. Kathryn Narciso and Dr. Bryan Dawson. 
• Grace and Growth: The Importance of a Leader's Mindset, Meredith Higgins and Dr. Michelle Eaton 
• Empowering Leadership: Navigating the Pitfalls and Cultivating Success, Dr. Tonekia L. Phairr. 
• Speak, Lead, Grow: Effective Communications and Team Dynamics, Anthony Giordano and Isaac Anderson. 
• To the Top: Climbing Mount Everest an Interactive Leadership Game, Dr. Bryan Dawson. 
• Understanding Problem Resolution in the Workplace (and the Role of Ethical Positioning in Decision Making), Bianca Cattani, Xandrea Dantin, and Ashley Healy. 
• Level up Your Leadership Skills with Project Management, Dr. Juanita Woods.