Around
the Homecoming period in the fall semester, it is also known as the premiere time
of the academic year to find new students- externally, out of Frostburg State
University to join the institution, but also internally, to recruit new majors
and minors for various colleges within the school. This type of event was taken
place on October 17, 2013 in the Atkinson Room in the Lane Center. It was the Leadership Studies Minor Presentation, hosted by Dr. Elesha
Ruminski. She is the Coordinator
of the Leadership Studies Minor, Chairwoman and Assistant Professor of
Communication Studies. She was there to persuade to students why joining the
minor is very beneficial to their academic and professional careers. She summoned
that the purpose of the presentation was to recruit new members for the program
and expand the experimental learning emphasis that is the foundation of the
study.
Ruminski
was joined by her fellow Leadership Minor colleagues: Dr. Diane C. Blankenship,
who is Associate Professor of Recreation and Parks Management,
but teaches the LEAD 499,
the Independent Study course for the minor, as it mostly serves upperclassmen.
Also there was Doug Baer, who is the Director of Leadership and Experiential Learning in the
Department of Student and Community Involvement. He teaches entry-level courses
of Lead 101 and 201. He is also in charge of the outdoor activities and trips,
which is one of the reasons why many students are interested in the program.
The last faculty member is Doug’s wife, April Baer, who is Coordinator of
Wellness, as well as instructor for the entry-level LEAD courses. She also
partakes in some of the experimental learning adventures.
The
host, Dr. Ruminski, talked about how she became involved in Leadership Studies.
She said, “I grew up in a working class home, and labor was very important in
my family. I have been involved in many Labor movements, and realized I held
leadership qualities that not only could be applied to this, but other causes.”
She had everyone go around the room and introduce their self and tell what
leadership meant to them. One student named Daniel Ramirez said “ I wanted to
join the minor after I heard all the trips and activities my friends, and other
students like got to embark on.” He was a freshman. People laughed at his
comment. Another student named Nicolette Black told how she is not a minor but
sees the program helps for many other reasons. She said, “I’ve always been the
kind of person to lead by my morals, and sometimes that would set me a
different path than my friends, so to me leadership is something someone can do
for their self, and not always being in charge of others, but you can influence
others to do the same.” Dr. Ruminski commended her on her comment.
The
presentation offered food, provided by ARAMARK. The menu included cheese
quesadillas, teriyaki chicken skewers, cream-spinach filled mushrooms, and a
buffalo-cheesy sauce to eat with little dried baguette pieces. The food was the talk of the town.
After
the icebreaker, Dr. Ruminski told about how she was hoping the minor would
become a major, and that the minor started off as a grassroots movements, so
many if the same method is applied for the major, it could happen. Everyone in
the room agreed a Leadership Studies major would be a good idea.
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