The University of Olivet recognized 20 students as graduates of the college’s President’s Leadership Institute (PLI) during a ceremony March 22 at the Battle Creek Country Club.
Launched in 2013, PLI was established to develop top leadership in Olivet’s students, as well as enable them to become the principal professional and community leaders of the future.
The college collaborated with experienced professionals that specialize in business coaching and professional development, to design a program catered specifically to Olivet students. The institute includes a variety of programs and initiatives to promote leadership, identify leadership talent, and develop effective and successful leadership qualities and skills in The University of Olivet students.
President Steven M. Corey, Ph.D., and the founding faculty members of the PLI, including Trustee David Labrecque; Provost and Dean Maria Davis, Ph.D.; and Today’s Leader Partners Charlie Burnham and Mike Bivens, were on hand to officially recognize students as fellows of the institute for having successfully completed the eight-segment program.
“I’m pleased to be engaged with the most capable and promising students at Olivet,” said President Corey. “I can attest that they have substantially begun what I hope will be a lifelong pursuit to develop and grow as high performing leaders.”
Steve Roznowski ’82, president and chief executive officer of The Christman Company, one of the country’s leading professional construction firms, was the featured guest at the event. Roznowski leads the overall Christman organization at the executive level, including directing the company’s strategic planning efforts. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Olivet. His wife, Melinda (Strother) Roznowski is also a 1982 graduate of Olivet.
Successful institute graduates are designated as fellows of the President’s Leadership Institute, and are invited to remain engaged in the activities of PLI in support of future student leadership development, both while completing their studies at The University of Olivet and as successful alumni engaged in professional and community leadership roles.
“Through PLI, I learned that effective leaders set the overall direction and guide the members in their organization,” said junior Julianna Carter. “I learned that even though you experience road bumps in your organization, it’s important to have and inspire drive and determination. PLI taught me that not everyone works the same way as you and how to manage everyone’s different personalities in the work setting.”
The students following 2016-17 graduates were nominated by faculty members and selected for the program based on academic excellence and exemplifying leadership on campus: Ryan Anderson, business administration with management concentration; Jenna Benvenuti, business management and insurance and risk management; Raquel Brumit, biology; Earl Bryant, sports and recreation management; Jason Cabugos, criminal justice and psychology; Madison Carr, chemistry; Julianna Carter, chemistry/forensic science; Madelynn Drikakis, biology; Zoe Feighner, criminal justice and psychology; Nicole Gilbert, biology – premedical; Cullen Haesler, environmental science; Jeff Humphrey, sociology/anthropology; Devon Mayse, history; Taahir Muhammad, environmental science; Jacob Richards, psychology; Reno Sims, insurance risk management and financial planning; Christopher Taylor, insurance and risk management; Re’Gene Thompson, journalism and mass communication; Alejandro Trevino, business analysis in insurance; Krystin Verran, accounting.
For more information about the President’s Leadership Institute at The University of Olivet, contact Barb Spencer, executive assistant to the president, at 269.749.7642 or bspencer@uolivet.edu.