University Residences’ Men’s and Women’s Leadership Series recently wrapped up a successful year of events providing leadership development opportunities for students.

The series provides opportunities for participants to network and connect with professional mentors, including faculty, staff and alumni, and like-minded peers while exploring the topic of leadership. The core principles of the series connect with Steps to Leaps, a campus-wide initiative focused on promoting and enhancing holistic well-being through the pillars of well-being, leadership, impact, building networks and grit/persistence.

Participants explored five essential elements of well-being – physical, financial, social, career and community – through events such as a career panel, financial roundtable, community mixer, visit to the Purdue Recreation & Wellness Demonstration Kitchen and a social/friendship discussion with Patrick Mosher, University Residences’ live-in Executive in Residence. Keynote speakers included Richard Okello, CEO and co-founder of Sango Capital, who delivered the men’s series address and Kim Riddle, retired global vice president of supply chain innovation engineering at Procter & Gamble, who delivered the keynote to participants in the women’s series. To supplement these events, participants read "Well Being: The Five Essential Elements," by Tom Rath and Jim Harter.

To recognize outstanding participants in the series, the leadership series committee bestows the Leadership Series Scholarship Award to two students, one each from the men’s and women’s cohorts. The honorees demonstrate an active pursuit of involvement opportunities and leadership contributions to the Purdue community. Each honoree receives a $1,000 scholarship award.

Emma Zaicow is this year’s winner from the women’s cohort. Zaicow is a graduate student in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program and has been involved in University Residences since joining the Data Mine Learning Community as a first-year student. She has served as the resident education assistant (REA) in Shreve Hall since fall 2022 and previously spent two years as a resident assistant (RA) in Meredith South. She is also involved in several Purdue Veterinary Medicine organizations, is president of the Heritage Breeds Club and is a member of the Purdue Food Animal Club, Purdue Pathology Club and Purdue One Health Club.

After graduating with her undergraduate degree, Zaicow says she realized that her previous involvement on campus had been geared towards building her resume and she gravitated towards the leadership series because of its focus on well-being. Her primary takeaways include a renewed focus on gratitude, achieving a better "life-work" balance and finding people who share her purpose and encourage her growth.

“It has become increasingly clear to me, both through my experiences as a residence education assistant and through my participation in this leadership program, that a leader who doesn’t ‘practice what they preach’ may struggle both in their role and their personal life,” wrote Zaicow. “These struggles may interfere with maintaining interpersonal relationships, providing support, meeting expectations, avoiding burnout and more. I have seen my own neglected wellness manifesting as having a lack of patience, using a blunt delivery and straying from taking on additional responsibilities. I am actively working to develop healthy means of preventing these traits and giving myself grace.” 

Charles “Chip” Stembler was named the recipient of the men’s scholarship award. Stembler is a senior double-majoring in professional flight (honors) and aviation management. He has served as the REA in Cary Quad since fall 2022, works in the Cary mail room and was previously a RA in Earhart Hall. Stembler also serves as a Certified Flight Instructor, where he teaches pilot certificate applicants and conducts flight reviews. He is active in several aviation organizations, including the Student Safety Committee and Aviation Ambassadors, and volunteers for Purdue Aviation Day. 

Stembler noted that his key takeaways focused on the importance of reflecting and improving upon well-being in leadership positions, balancing the elements of well-being and how a leader’s well-being affects their team. He related that days when he struggles with well-being can affect his ability to lead and has committed to practicing well-being to be an example for his team and the residents of Cary.

“When I started Men’s and Women’s Leadership Series, I set a goal to improve each element of my well-being to better myself and indirectly better the team,” wrote Stembler. “So far this year, I have begun exercising more, started making a monthly budget, started making a universal calendar and began volunteering more at the airport. In turn, those small improvements have helped me to become a better leader.”

Readers can support ongoing efforts to develop the next generation of leaders by earmarking donations to the Men’s and Women’s Leadership Series on Purdue Day of Giving, scheduled for Wednesday, April 24. Your donation helps create meaningful development for students like those highlighted in this article. Set a reminder and visit dayofgiving.purdue.edu to make your donation.