Elon hosted the North Carolina Student International Leadership Conference on November 5 & 6.
The annual North Carolina Student International Leadership Conference was held at Elon University on November 5 & 6. The conference is an annual event sponsored by the North Carolina Association of International Educators. The purpose of the conference is to bring together both U.S. and international students from around the state to build leadership skills and engagement with international issues.
The conference was hosted by the Isabella Cannon International Centre (ICIC) and attracted over 90 students from around the state. There were eight sessions, seven of which were student-led. Five of these sessions were led by Elon students. The keynote address was delivered by Juan Obando, Assistant Professor of Art at Elon University. His address was titled, “Art and Politics: The Collision of Aesthetics and Activism.”
Elon first-year student Omolayo Ojo said of the conference, “”The entire conference was a great experience: from meeting wonderful students from around North Carolina who are also interested in global leadership, attending fascinating sessions, learning about Invisible children and even the dinner and social. I would recommend it to anyone.”
Bill Burress, who served on the conference committee and is an International Programs Advisor in the ICIC, said, “The conference was an excellent opportunity for the Elon community to showcase itself to students from around the state. The students and staff involved in the conference did a tremendous job and should all be very proud of the result.”
The host institution for next year’s conference is yet to be determined, but interested students or staff can get more information by contacting the ICIC.
Conference sessions led by Elon students:
- “Going Global: A Life-Changing Experience” – Cedric Pulliam
- “Who are Latinos? How Better Understanding the Latino Culture Can Help You Better Cater to Latino Students on a College Campus” – Nicole Morillo
- “Africa Is Not a Country: Breaking the Stereotypes and Misconceptions of the African Continent” – Omolayo Ojo and Nana A.P. Mensah
- “Techniques to Connect Domestic Student Groups with International Issues” – Kevin Lunch and Katie Salerno
- “Connected 2.0: The Roles of Social Media in a Global Society” – Edith Veremu