Contact: Katie Neal, Wake Forest University, [email protected], 336.758.6141
Newswise — WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – July 15, 2011 – As back-to-school season approaches, the rising cost of college tuition and high unemployment for new grads raise questions about the payoff of a liberal arts degree. Wake Forest University takes these concerns very seriously and is addressing them to achieve concrete results – bringing in nationally renowned talent to develop students’ leadership skills from the first time they step on campus through its Office of Personal and Career Development. In the newly created role of Associate Vice President for Leadership Development and Professor of Practice, Evelyn Williams will apply her proven track record of leadership development – including unprecedented administrative and faculty roles at top-ranked Stanford and University of Chicago Schools of Business – to help students transform classroom lessons into real-world success. Evelyn envisions a collaborative program designed to develop leadership skills throughout a student’s undergraduate academic experience. “To be a leader in any field a student chooses to study, he or she must know three things: how to motivate others, influence outcomes and build relationships. At Wake Forest, we plan to develop curriculum and programs that will build leadership skill sets early,” Williams says.
Evelyn will work closely with Executive Director of Employment Development Mercy Eyadiel, who also joined Wake Forest from Stanford in July. Eyadiel will focus on opportunities for career exploration – building connections and finding job opportunities for students by developing and strengthening relationships with employers, alumni and parents. Incoming freshman Micheal Green couldn’t be more excited about the University’s increased emphasis on leadership and career development from day one. Already accomplished at 18 years old, Green is planning for his post-graduate studies and a career in law or business. As a recipient of one of Wake Forest’s most prestigious scholarships, the student government president of his high school, and an International Baccalaureate diploma recipient, he knows leadership will be a key component of his future success. “For me, leadership has always been ‘trial by fire,’ which might be fine in high school, but it’s not enough at the collegiate level and certainly not in a professional setting.” The leadership and character development curriculum will include experiential training to teach students how to manage themselves in challenging interpersonal situations – whether it’s dealing with a layoff or conflicts between employees – boosting confidence for a seamless transition to new roles after graduation. Similarly, the focus on career exploration supports the University’s mission to help students discover their personal values and provide opportunities for them to translate their interests in any field of study into a rewarding post-graduation life.
“Combining solid academic preparation with significant personal and professional preparation is a powerful tool for helping students find successful paths and is of undeniable value for employers,” says Eyadiel.
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