Abstract
The Frank McKenna Centre for Leadership was established at St. Francis Xavier University in 2011, with its chief mission being to provide meaningful and impactful leadership opportunities for undergraduate students. Through a variety of programs and initiatives, students are mentored around what leadership entails, and how they might develop their own leadership style. The Xaverian Leaders Program is a cornerstone of the Centre and is a one-year opportunity for students from all disciplines to participate in two leadership symposiums led by a variety of leadership experts. Students then actualize the theory by designing and executing their own community-based leadership activity, under the supervision and guidance of the Director and student interns. The Centre also provides a series of leadership grants to support student led social justice initiatives. Grant recipients are mentored though the process by an expert in project management and receive additional support from the student interns. In sum, the Centre’s approach to mentoring is unique and benefits and empowers all the parties involved, thus leading to a positive sense of well-being. As a case study, this paper explores the role of the McKenna Centre and its approaches to mentoring students so that they become empowered and ready to become change agents.
Presenters
David C. YoungProfessor and Director, Faculty of Education, St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia, Canada
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Higher Education, Case Study, Student Leadership, Mentoring
