Oglethorpe University recently celebrated the successful completion of the inaugural cohort of the President’s Leadership Fellows program, a yearlong initiative designed to introduce first-year students to impactful leadership and help them develop the skills and confidence to lead with purpose.

“Those who have completed the first-year program understand values-driven, selfless leadership that empowers others and inspires collective visioning,” says President Kathryn McClymond, Ph.D. “Moving forward, these students know where and how they will lead, improving their classmates’ lives and, eventually, the communities where they will ultimately live and work.”

Throughout the academic year, fellows engaged in structured, conversation-based sessions with alumni leaders representing a wide range of professional paths, including finance, law, energy, public relations and business leadership. Guest speakers included Chad Smith ’13, Misty Fernandez ’04, Drew Findling ’81, Chandler Rierson ’13, Manny Portillo ’20, and Lauren Howard ’08.

Guided by President McClymond and Dr. Meredith Raimondo, vice president of student affairs, these “master class” conversations centered on leadership influences, career journeys, decision-making and the responsibilities leaders hold to others.

The program culminated in a capstone poster session, where students presented personal projects or initiatives they had been involved in during their first year at the university. The capstone experience allowed fellows to showcase their learning and explore how different leadership practices empowered them to make a difference around issues they care about deeply. Past speakers, faculty, staff, parents and campus leaders attended the session, engaging directly with students as they discussed their growth and goals.

“My experience in the President’s Leadership Fellows program greatly enhanced my understanding of myself and my leadership capabilities,” says communication studies major Abby Scott ’29, whose capstone project detailed how the first-year came to cement her career ambitions in sports media, fueled by a desire to add women’s voices to a field that predominantly employs men.

She continues: “Collaborating with a diverse group of my peers helped me refine my communication skills and develop greater empathy. I’m now inspired and fully equipped to make a meaningful difference at OU!”

At the conclusion of the program, each student received a certificate of completion and a ceremonial pin designating them as President’s Leadership Fellows. As students accepted their pins, Dr. McClymond read aloud selected lines from personal leadership reflections written earlier in the year, underscoring the individual growth each fellow experienced.

“I feel privileged to participate directly in that work in a small way through this program,” adds Dr. McClymond. “Seeing each student begin to recognize their own potential through the classroom work and in conversation with guest alumni in our ‘master class’ sessions remind me how special the Oglethorpe experience is, and seeing our students develop gives me hope for the future.”

President’s Leadership Fellows, Inaugural Cohort