Sessions by Track

Rachel Spier (Morningside University, 2022)

The presentation will cover: 1) the fundamentals of a personal brand and its relevance in leadership and career contexts; 2) strategies for collaborating with campus faculty, alumni, and student groups to enhance your brand; and 3) a detailed approach to developing your brand, including crafting an elevator pitch, identifying core values, and using book club topics to inform your leadership style. Following the presentation, attendees will engage in small group discussions to develop their own brands and elevator pitches, equipping them with actionable strategies for effective leadership and networking on campus and beyond.

Sheridan Henson (Cumberland University, 2008)

How does a Circle of O∆K at a small, private, non-profit university nestled in the South design programming that not only provides leadership training to under-served student populations but also creates space for campus and community collaboration? Participants in this session will receive a description of Cumberland University’s efforts to accomplish this challenging task, and they will also enjoy an opportunity to break out into small groups to discuss how they can design programming at their institutions, bridging an often-neglected gap in higher education.

Jamie Ball (Oglethorpe University, 1993)

This session is designed for leaders aiming to enhance their ability to cultivate strong, resilient connections both in their professional careers and personal lives. In today’s rapidly evolving world, the ability to build and maintain meaningful relationships is crucial for success and well-being. This presentation will equip leaders with the knowledge, tools, and strategies to navigate interpersonal challenges, foster trust, and ensure their relationships can withstand conflict and change.

Anita Navarro (Virginia Commonwealth University, 1990)

Leadership by most definitions involves some sort of exchange between leader and members. Thus, interpersonal communications is foundational to being an effective leader. This session will offer the basics of interpersonal communications based on the sender-receiver model and its application to leading groups. We’ll begin with some didactics and then move to exercises to apply and practice the model. Participants will be able to describe the elements of the model, practice each element and then apply them to a current leadership scenario.

Bradley Firchow (Oglethorpe University, 2017)

Discover how your lived experiences can become powerful tools for collaborative leadership. This session explores strategies for fostering inclusivity, empathy-driven advocacy, and cultural humility in leadership roles. Learn practical approaches to overcoming biases, building diverse coalitions, and leading impactful initiatives in under-resourced communities. Through interactive discussions and real-world case studies from the speaker’s experiences as a rural health advocate and medical student, you’ll gain actionable insights to lead with authenticity and drive meaningful change. Join us to harness your unique experiences and shape a more equitable future in leadership!

Jeff Bonner (University of Maryland, College Park 1994)

Join aviator and author Jeff Bonner in an inspiring keynote speech as he shares valuable insights on how aviation’s principles can propel you toward high performance and leadership success. With engaging storytelling and practical wisdom, this session will empower ODK collegiate members to soar to new heights in their leadership journey. By discovering the high-performance Daily Debrief abit, participants will develop a fighter pilot mindset to lead and win. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain a unique perspective from the world of aviation and unlock your full potential for leadership success.

Jade Metcalf (Washington State University, 1992)

College seniors sometimes struggle to articulate the value of their undergraduate leadership experience to prospective employers. “President of Omicron Delta Kappa? Is that a frat?” Using the STAR method, they can highlight their leadership skills and set themselves apart from other candidates by telling stories about the leadership role they played and the measurable contribution they made to a project or community.

Christina Caldwell (East Carolina University, 2024)
Tracee Moore (East Carolina University, 2024)
Michelle Maher (East Carolina University, 2024)

This interactive workshop will focus on strategies to increase engagement with distance education students. We will explore tools for real-time collaboration and breakout sessions for discussion. Participants will gain practical methods for fostering leadership and inclusion in virtual settings, focusing on moral leadership and accessibility. Through interactive activities and shared experiences, we aim to empower attendees to shape the future of distance education using digital tools.

Avital Miller (Arizona State University, 2024)

This seminar equips leaders with strategies to enhance team cohesion, innovation, and performance. Participants will engage in hands-on exercises focused on communication, conflict resolution, and motivation techniques. Coaching methodologies will be introduced to help leaders unlock team potential and align with organizational goals. Designed for business leaders, this immersive experience offers practical tools to navigate leadership challenges and drive success in today’s dynamic enterprise environment. Attendees will leave prepared to elevate their leadership impact and spearhead innovation.

Dar Mayweather, PhD (University of North Carolina Wilmington, 2024)

Leadership trainers need tools to motivate and inspire people across social identity differences, while certain states create policies to diminish DEI engagement, recruitment, and retention resources. Trainers who value DEI must innovate ways to include it in training. This session develops leaders who train diverse people using identity-based storytelling and experiential learning activities. Participants in this session will create strategies that build trust and increase social identity awareness during training.

Avital Miller (Arizona State University, 2024)

Discover practical strategies to prevent conflict escalation and transform challenges into opportunities for growth. In this interactive virtual workshop, you’ll learn to navigate workplace conflicts—whether caused by communication breakdowns, team dynamics, or unfair treatment—by harnessing emotional intelligence. Gain insights into the root causes of conflict and develop win-win solutions. Enhance your communication skills to set boundaries, provide constructive feedback, and make requests that inspire collaboration and productivity, ultimately driving success for your business.

This session features leaders in public service, offering insights into the evolving landscape of governance, policy-making, and community engagement. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of public administration and leave with actionable takeaways to enhance their own impact in the public sector. Join us for an engaging dialogue on the future of public service leadership.

Featured Speakers:

• Dar’Shun Kendrick (Oglethorpe University, 2002) State Representative, District 95, Georgia House of Representatives
• Chad Huckaby (Stephen F. Austin State University, 2013) Vice Mayor Pro Tempore, City of Nacogdoches, TX
• Sydni Mitchell Gaitan (Stephen F. Austin State University, 2008) External Relations Specialist, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Dr. Angela Walker (Talladega College, 2021)

This engaging presentation uses Rev. Dr. Martin Luther, Jr.’s 1963 “Letter from Birmingham Jail” as a framework to celebrate history, embrace change, and shape tomorrow. In his famed jailhouse letter, Rev. Dr. King, Jr. listed a controversial four-step approach to planning and executing nonviolent Civil Rights protests. Anybody in the 21st-century can adapt and implement his timeless and proven approach in college, the workforce, the community, or anywhere else in the world to convincingly advocate for themselves and others. This energetic presentation applies Rev. Dr. King, Jr.’s nonviolent approach to discuss how effective written rhetoric is an indestructible empowerment tool.

James (Pat) Carlisle (Emory University,1977)

Team collaboration is often difficult because each member often sees the issue at hand differently, and our perceptions are in conflict. Developed over time by life experience, each of us develops our own “Logic Bubble” which creates our perception of reality. Attendees will participate in a collaboration process using a proven methodology on how to more effectively use and manage differing perceptions, as well as increase inclusion and equity in decision making.

Omicron Delta Kappa recognizes the achievement in leadership of undergraduate sophomores, juniors and seniors, graduate students, members of faculty and administration, alumni, and honorary members of a school or college. Circles should be recruiting and selecting new members from each of these classes in each recruitment cycle. This session will discuss best practices in new member recruitment and will feature two circles who have implemented innovative practices for recruiting faculty, staff, and alumni members.