Tarleton State University was among more than 60 institutions represented at the National Collegiate Leadership Conference, held Feb. 17-19 at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

Attending the conference were director of student leadership programs Johnny Robinson, coordinator of transition and family relations Michael Barnette, and Tarleton student Amanda Ritchie, who serves as assistant coordinator of Student Leadership Programs. The trio gave two presentations at the conference, which was attended by more than 650 participants from across the United States.

The National Collegiate Leadership Conference is a student-run organization that brings together students and leaders from diverse backgrounds to learn leadership skills, cultivate social responsibility, break down leadership barriers and adopt leadership as a way of life.

One of Tarleton’s presentations was on values exploration to help attendees increase self-efficacy through the identification of their own strengths and weaknesses and personal values before attempting to lead others.

The second presentation was designed to help participants develop a values-based leadership philosophy they could utilize in their own organization. Robinson and Barnette used Tarleton L.E.A.D.S., a co-curricular and curricular program established in 2008, as an example of building a successful leadership certification program.

The skills that students learn from the association can be applicable in students organizations, families, campuses, job settings, and local and global communities, said Robinson, adding that the conference extends beyond the conventional definitions of leadership. “It is designed to help students tap into and expand their leadership potential, helping them grow personally and professionally,” he said.