Discovering how to build inclusive environments

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. — Six Penn State Schuylkill students had the opportunity to develop their leadership skills at the 31st annual Robert D. Lynch Student Leadership Development Institute, hosted by the Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education Inc.

The event, held Oct. 27-29 at the Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel, featured workshops that examined effective leadership skills, cross-cultural communication, interpersonal relations, building inclusive environments and fostering cultural awareness. Sophomore or junior student applicants who were involved with Educational Equity and demonstrated strong leadership skills and high scholastic aptitude received a sponsorship to attend from the University’s Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity.

Students who attended from Penn State Schuylkill were Kyanna Gonzalez, Elmwood, New Jersey; Christina DeMoss, Fayetteville, North Carolina; Shaheera Womack-Newman, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Cynthia Girault, West Hempstead, New York; Shaheem Mack, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania; and Tiffany Vargas, Brooklyn, New York. Tina Rose, coordinator of career services, accompanied the students as their adviser.

The Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education Inc. is an organization made up of professionals from the public and private sector, education, business, social services, law and government, who have a deep commitment to improving and ensuring the education of black, Latino and other students underrepresented in higher education. The organization focuses on key issues affecting the future of higher education in Pennsylvania, providing input to the various sectors of government, education and community leaders of the Commonwealth who impact the lives of African-American and other underrepresented groups at Pennsylvania colleges and universities.

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