For the second year in a row, the Student Association at the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) sponsored a special retreat for student leaders. Titled Lead, Learn, Succeed, the one-week retreat was designed to equip both new and continuing student leaders with the essential skills needed to thrive in their roles.
Reshma Jaigobin, student development and leadership coordinator at CUNY SPS, organized the Lead, Learn, Succeed retreat by focusing on specific input and directives given by students who attended in 2023. In response to the student recommendations, the retreat was streamlined into a four-session series. Since a majority of students expressed the desire to build communication skills, each workshop highlighted a different aspect of effective interchange: “Collaborative Connections: Building Strong Teams,” “Visionary Goals,” “Converse & Connect,” and “Cultural Humility in Leadership.
When leading her workshops, Ramsay maximized her experience in improvisational performance to help impart the art of listening to students. “The main thing that makes my workshops different is the basis of theater as both a tool and a foundation on which to build practical, professional skills,” Ramsay shared. “This means that I don’t just want token participation… In a short period of time, I want to have people working together, laughing together.”
Talia Gurstel, who works at NYU, taught the "Visionary Goals" workshop.
BPS Applied Management & Entrepreneurship student and Urban Male Scholar (UMS) peer mentor Acharo Smith (‘25) also found the program's content helpful. “The sessions on ‘Cultural Humility in Leadership’ and ‘Converse & Connect: Discovering and Enhancing Communication Styles’ particularly resonated with me,” said Smith. “I intend to integrate the lessons from the retreat into various aspects of my life, whether social, professional, or academic.”
Reflecting back on the retreat, Jaigobin noted, “The presenters brought their own unique approaches, and we hope that their diverse techniques resonated with our students," they said. "Our goal was for the experience to be transformative, equipping student leaders with the skills to make a lasting impact in their individual roles, as a cohesive group, and within the communities they serve.”
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About the CUNY School of Professional Studies
As New York's leading online school since 2006, the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) offers the most online bachelor's and master's degree options at the City University of New York, and serves as the University's first undergraduate all-transfer college. With 26 degrees and numerous other non-degree and grant-funded workplace learning programs, CUNY SPS meets the needs of adults who wish to finish a bachelor's degree, progress from an associate's degree, earn a master's degree or certificate in a specialized field, and advance in the workplace or change careers. Consistently ranked highly by U.S. News & World Report for its online offerings, CUNY SPS has emerged as a nationwide leader in online education. The School's renowned and affordable online programs ensure that busy working adults may fulfill their educational goals on their own time and schedule.
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