Andrew Peckhem IV, a residence education coordinator in Tarkington Hall, leads a discussion with participants in the Jay Severson Student Leadership Retreat.

University Residences’ Jay Severson Student Leadership Retreat was reimagined in a different format this year and provided an even more extensive leadership development experience for participants.  

The Severson retreat is an annual leadership conference held during the fall semester. Named for a former Residential Life staff member who was tragically murdered during his time as a staff member, the retreat embodies the spirit of Jay Severson’s service to the university through development, collaboration and pride in being a Boilermaker. The retreat is open to members of residence hall clubs. The retreat typically includes development sessions, philanthropy, encouragement of cross-club collaboration and spaces for students to mingle and have fun in a low-stress atmosphere.  

In previous years, the event was an overnight retreat held at Camp Tecumseh in nearby Brookston, Indiana. This year’s retreat included a series of events spread over several weeks. Students help plan and organize the retreat along with Residential Life staff under the direction of Jen Bannon, associate director of Residential Life.  

This year’s retreat kicked off with guest speaker Art Norins, who was serving as Executive-in-Residence. Norins, founder, chairman and CEO at R11 Inc. and a self-described serial entrepreneur, shared lessons learned from his evolution from a “corn-fed kid from Indiana” selling Twinkies in grade school to a world-class entrepreneur and philanthropist. The opening session also included breakouts on diversity, equity and inclusion.  

Over the course of the next several weeks, participants in the retreat attended six leadership development sessions on a variety of topics and participated in a month-long leadership competition between the halls. The experience culminated in leadership and service-oriented sessions as well as fall festivities at Fair Oaks Farms.  

Students participate in small group discussions during the Jay Severson Student Leadership Retreat.

Kelley Bailey, continuing lecturer from the College of Health and Human Sciences and a Faculty Fellow in Earhart Hall, delivered the keynote address at the closing event. Bailey served as a residence hall counselor and staff resident while working on her bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Originally from Alaska, Bailey knows the value of the sense of community found in residence halls and the challenges of a Purdue education, having earned three degrees from the University. Because of her mentorship of the women in Earhart Hall, Bailey was recognized as an outstanding faculty member by students in University Residences. She consistently shares positive messages with students in University Residences.  

“I was a straight-A student in high school, but I got here and it’s just different,” Bailey says. “I was pulling a D in chemistry my first semester, but I have a Ph.D. now and they asked me to work here. There are a lot of different paths to being successful.”  

The Jay Severson Student Leadership Retreat is one of numerous opportunities for UR residents to gain confidence and build their leadership skills. Leadership development opportunities can also be found in hall clubs, the Residence Hall Association, National Residence Hall Honorary, student employment, resident assistant positions, Men’s and Women’s Leadership Series and other student organizations.