NASPA, the national association for student affairs administrators in higher education, has recognized a Denison University student leadership initiative, D. U. Lead, as the Gold Award Winner for Student Union, Student Activities, Greek Life, Leadership, and related Excellence. D.U. Lead is an intensive weekend institute for first year students in the Denison community.
The award-winning program aims to address and develop a variety of leadership skills within a peer support network. “D.U. Lead is about leading with integrity and intentionality; the program is primarily focused on helping first-year students to answer the question: How Will You Make Your Mark?” said Natalie Pariano, dean of co-curricular design at Denison. “We support students in ‘making their mark’ by helping them to identify their passions and to engage in related service to the Denison and surrounding communities. When they make their mark, students live congruently with their values and stay true to their commitments.”
D.U. Lead’s learning outcomes include an introduction to the social change model of leadership development; establishing relationships with like-minded first students, as well as upper-class mentors; practicing working cooperatively with others on a variety of projects and assignments; participating in a self-assessment exercise to help identify personal strengths and weaknesses; and reflecting on personal values, clarified passions and applied these to a future change initiative.
“Natalie’s innovative work in redesigning and continually updating the D.U. Lead program has been exceptional,” said Laurel Kennedy, vice president for student development at Denison. “D.U. Lead is an outstanding initiative that supports the outcomes we work to help our students achieve — the kind of skills, including communication, analysis, and teamwork, that will advance them in their career at Denison and will continue to enrich their life after graduation.”
NASPA is the leading association for the advancement, health, and sustainability of the student affairs profession. Its work provides high-quality professional development, advocacy, and research for 13,000 members in all 50 states, 25 countries and 8 U.S. territories.