Sessions by Track

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!

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.

Matthew Nobles (University of Florida, 2006)

Maximizing your potential and achieving your highest goals is more easily accomplished with a team of experienced and dedicated supporters on your side. Join this session to gain a better understanding the difference between the roles of Mentor, Sponsor and Coach and how to best utilize each for your personal growth & development. Learn how to identify the right people and connect with them to start building this relationship. And learn how to ensure that the time and energy invested with your mentor, sponsor and coaches is beneficial for everyone involved.

Tony Trimpe

This session will combine concepts of Appreciative Inquiry, Serving Leadership, and the Student Leadership Competencies to create an interactive workshop that will show attendees how to lead a constituency through the concept of love. Attendees will practice a variety of activities that focus on their personal values, goal setting, and strengths while learning to listen & have dialogue with peers about all of these. Audience members should leave this session with a rejuvenated sense of their personal leadership philosophy while also understanding to appreciate the nuance and differences of one another.

Charlie Sloop (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2023)
Tony Trimpe

This presentation will go through a background of VT Engage: The Center of Leadership and Service Learning along with the definition of civic leadership and how to incorporate the Student Leadership Competencies into your circle’s work. Attendees will take away strategies to shape their own circles, which include concepts of collaborating and designing leadership programs, recognizing student achievement, accessing the circle’s mission, vision and values, and delivering curriculum aligned competencies from various perspectives across your circle’s campus. Attendees should come prepared to generate ideas, collaborate, and come away with tangible action items to implement in their circle.

Kelley Burton (East Carolina University, 2021)
Zoe Nivens (East Carolina University, 2024)
Krista Wilhelm (East Carolina University, 2000)

Omicron Delta Kappa places value on cultivating servant leaders. Many of our members hold leadership positions not only within our organization but also in various others. In this session, we emphasize the significance of recognizing when leaders become overwhelmed with responsibilities and the importance of learning how to set boundaries. It is vital to understand when it is appropriate to decline tasks or delegate them to others, ensuring their own well-being while continuing their growth as individuals within our organization. By mastering the art of setting healthy boundaries, we not only benefit our organization but also prioritize our personal well-being.

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.

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.

Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins (University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 2003)

Whether you’re asked to speak in a high-stakes meeting, give an update, or pitch an idea on the spot, impromptu speaking is a crucial leadership skill. This fast-paced, interactive workshop will teach you how to be the B.O.S.S. of impromptu speaking. Not only will you learn, but you will practice in this high-energy accelerated workshop receiving immediate feedback to refine your approach. Walk away with the confidence to handle unplanned speaking moments and the ability to communicate with clarity, influence, and impact—every time.

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.

Christine Simone (Florida Southern College, 2009)

In the remote teamwork era, few leadership styles have had the capacity to enhance the work of teams in this modality quite like the coaching leadership style. Characterized by individualized development, open communication, adaptability, and trust, the coaching style has proven highly effective in distributed environments. This session explores the merits of the coach leadership style in the remote environment, offering actionable strategies to foster a culture of accountability, continuous growth, and inclusivity. Backed by case studies and data-driven insights, this session aims to help leaders unlock the full potential of their remote teams.

Matthew Taylor

Managing change is an adaptive challenge that requires us to shift mindsets. In other words, we must shift habits of mind and beliefs when we embrace change. Noble Story Group’s (NSG’s) Emotional Intelligence (EI) approach to embracing change grounds you in your personal core values as a way to shift the beliefs that hold you back. Bring a challenge that is keeping you up at night to this workshop and you will leave with a plan to attack it and other change obstacles grounded in the integrity of your standard.

Each year, circles should host a Signature Leadership Program and a Signature Service Program. Not only does this meet the requirements of the Circle Standards, but these programs help to build awareness of the circle and help make Omicron Delta Kappa synonymous with leadership and service on campus. These programs should be open to the campus community and can be utilized as a recruitment tool for the circle. This session will cover signature program requirements and best practices for developing successful programs.

A primary benefit of membership in O∆K is the ability to form connections with other leaders on your campus, but since O∆K members are also some of the busiest people at your institution, how do you engage these busy leaders in your circle? This session will cover best practices for circle meetings, strategies for hybrid engagement, and tips on engaging faculty, staff and alumni members alongside your student leaders.