This semester, Sonoma State University has been hosting their usual groups and workshops online, on top of some that are brand new to students, such as the Leadership In Crisis group. In this group, Sonoma State provides panels of SSU alumni to share their leadership experiences and discuss the roles of a student leader in a time of crisis. The Leadership In Crisis group is held on Zoom biweekly on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The panels are designed to help students learn how to make the transition from on-campus leadership to taking on a leadership role in any aspect of life after college. Each panel is facilitated by a different alum. 

Katie Andersen, an SSU alum from the class of 2001 who participated in the most recent leadership panel, said, “On the alumni panels, we are asked to share with current students to share our personal experiences with leadership opportunities at SSU. Because each of us have had different opportunities, each alum has a unique perspective so those popping in to learn will be able to connect our leadership experiences to their own, as well as learn about opportunities they may not have been aware of.” 

The panels were created in order to give Seawolves a wide range of experiences to learn from. Students will be taught how skills can be obtained from a variety of on-campus leadership positions, and how those skills can be applied to a career. A different alum presents in each panel, discussing their previous role on campus and what they learned from it.    

“The idea is that the alumni, who were student leaders on campus here at SSU at some point, would share their experiences, knowledge and skills learned, and how they have used those transferable skills in their jobs and roles since leaving here. The experiences and roles they were in at SSU varied from RA, to TAs in classes, Summer O Leaders, Rec Center, EOP Leaders, Tour Guides, Club and Organization Leadership, AS etc.,” said Director of Student Involvement, Mo Phillips. 

SSU has quite a lot of opportunities for students to become involved on campus and to assume leadership positions. Andersen was able to be involved in many different areas on campus, seeing student involvement at its full potential. 

“For four years, I worked with student leaders of clubs, organizations and sororities and fraternities, coordinated club fairs and planned student leadership retreats. I also became involved in student government, and was on the board of directors of the Sonoma Student Union Corporation for two years, serving one year as board chair,” said Andersen. She was also involved in student government, became the Student Assistant of Clubs, and with the Student Union Board, was able to help pass the referendum to build the Recreation Center on campus. 

The Leadership group hopes to help students grow not only their character, but their knowledge and abilities through encouraging involvement in organizations and clubs.

“College is a time to hone your skills, to learn and to grow. Noone wants to be the same exact person on Commencement that they were when they arrived four years earlier,” said Phillips.

During a pandemic in which everything is confusing and stressful for everyone, leadership is valued among students. Building a community within student life can help support those who feel lost and like they have no one to turn to. 

“I feel that this moment in time needs to cultivate leaders who can connect to their communities with those outside their circles more than ever,” said Andersen. “We need leaders who truly care about the people they are leading- as well as the ideas and projects they are tasked to lead.”

To learn more about leadership on campus and attend a drop-in group, visit seawolfliving.com/virtual-events.