AACC hosted an annual conference for student leaders on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

The Riverhawks Rise Leadership Program, a two-day event organized by the Office of Student Engagement, engaged attendees through lectures from AACC staff members, focusing on how to be a good leader. 

“We’re trying to share and instill in students that anyone can be a leader,” Marlea Brisbane, the leadership and involvement specialist in the Office of Student Engagement, said. “Leadership is something that can be learned.” 

“I definitely enjoyed this last session the most,” Nathaniel Wofford, a second-year public health student, said. “Events like this can help people get perspective on where they can grow and change. And seek help. All of it goes into molding and shaping more impactful leaders … [and] members of the student body.”

Wofford referred to Tuesday’s last session, “7 Habits of High-Impact Leaders,”  hosted by Kelly McCants-Price, AACC’s chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer..

“I consider everyone to be a leader because I think, you know, all of us have some sort of leadership capacity we’re working with,” McCants-Price noted in the lecture. 

Students listened as McCants-Price went over the seven habits she found most important when leading a team. They include: asking good questions, sharing credit generously, showing care for their teams, listening to understand, seeking and appreciating diverse perspectives, embracing change, and balancing high expectations with support and grace. 

“[I learned] I can have my own perspectives and opinions and beliefs and views on things,” T.J. Majors, a third-year graphic-design student, said.. “But, I feel like it’s also important not to project that onto other people too much. … it’s more important as a leader to listen to other people … especially If you’re working with a team.”

“Even if you don’t think you have any leadership experience,” Brisbane added, “we want you to come to one of these and see, ‘Oh I can learn these things’. There are tangible takeaway skills.” 

“There was a good turn out for today,” Wofford added. “I wish more students would’ve known about it and have been able to participate. So I’m looking forward to the next one.”