March 2, 2007 :: No. 139

With the leadership skills she is learning at Cal State Fullerton, business administration student Wendy Nguyen hopes to one day make a difference in her native Vietnam: Her dream is to develop a leadership program for Vietnamese youth.

As director of the student-led committee that is planning Cal State Fullerton’s 10th annual University Leadership Conference on March 10, she’s well on her way to gaining the skills she needs to be an effective leader.

“I hope to take what I’ve learned and apply it in Vietnam,” said Nguyen of Aliso Viejo, who served as workshop coordinator for the 2006 conference. “I just want to make a difference in my country and show teens that by taking action and getting involved, they can make a difference in the community. It’s my long-term goal.”

Nguyen, who is from Ho Chi Minh City, will earn a business degree with a concentration in international management in June. She plans to work in Vietnam after graduation, and then in several years, return to the United States to earn a master’s degree. Serving on the eight-member University Leadership Conference Planning Committee has helped her to develop leadership skills that will prepare her for the future, she said.

“I’ve learned from my peers, and the experience has strengthened my skills and made me a well-rounded person.”

The conference focuses on leadership education and training and is titled, “You Can Make A Difference… Lead! Learn. Empower. Achieve. Do.” Cal State Fullerton students, as well as students from other colleges and universities, are invited to attend. Cost is $15 for CSUF students and $20 for non-students. Students can register on the day of the event, held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Titan Student Union.

Over the last decade the conference has grown from 40 participants the first year with more than 300 students expected to attend this year, said Juanita Razo, assistant dean of students who oversees the conference’s student committee.

“It’s an opportunity for students to come and learn about leadership, to learn about what kind of leaders they are and what kind of leaders they can become,” Razo said. “The conference is open to all students — whether or not they are involved in leadership activities.

“Many people believe that to be a leader you must hold a leadership position. But leadership is not a position. Rather, leadership is about taking action; it’s about working with people to make a change for the greater good.”

The conference will feature speakers, educational and motivational workshops and networking opportunities. Awards will be given to two CSUF students who have demonstrated exemplary leadership. Attendees also will receive a leadership certificate.

 “We hope that after the conference, students will take the leadership skills they learned and apply them to their own lives and make changes that positively impact their communities,” Nguyen said.

The conference is a project of Student Affairs’ Leadership and Multicultural Development Programs and is funded by the U.S. Department of Education Title V Retention Initiative. Although all students are welcome to attend, special efforts are made to invite engineering, computer science, natural sciences and mathematics majors, as well as Latino students, since in the past, these populations have historically attended the conference in smaller numbers, Razo said.

Keynote speakers are Vernon Wall, a lecturer, consultant and author from Washington, D.C.; and Hilda Pacheco-Taylor, founder of Corazon de Vida (Heart of Life), an Orange County nonprofit organization that supports orphanages in Baja California, Mexico.

Wall, who will give his talk during the morning session, is a nationally known speaker in the areas of social justice and leadership styles. He noted that there are many reasons why students should get involved in leadership.

“Leadership opportunities complement a student’s academic life. When an employer looks at a resume, what sets a student apart from the sea of others, is his or her experiences working with and managing others.”

Leaders typically interact with different styles and personalities daily, Wall said, adding that “some we connect with, some we clash with.”

“Typically, when we talk about leadership styles, the focus is on ‘How can I be my best?’

While this is important, it is just as important to know and understand what we can each do to assist in our team and organization members’ success. Learning from others is the best way to enhance your leadership style.”

As closing speaker, Pacheco-Taylor, vice president of operations at L5 Performance Systems in Irvine, will share her upbringing at a Mexican orphanage, her inspiration to establish the Corazon de Vida Foundation and her commitment to give back to the community.

Each year, the conference sponsors a leadership project to encourage participants to get involved with a local social issue. This year, the conference is partnering with CSUF’s Volunteer & Service Center to collect personal care products to benefit infants and youth who are victims of abuse. Items can be donated on the day of the event or taken to drop-off locations on campus (see Web site below for drop-off sites). All items will be donated to Crittenton Services for Children and Families in Fullerton.

“We’re asking conference participants to donate personal care products —from soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes to wash cloths and hairbrushes,” Razo said. “Hopefully this will help students to engage in other volunteer and leadership opportunities in their communities.”

Registration and more information about the conference: www.fullerton.edu/deanofstudents/LMDP/leadership_conference.htm
657-278-3211. Parking is free in the State College Parking Structure; enter from State College Boulevard.

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