True leadership skills are often hard to learn.  At Grand Valley, students are given the opportunity to learn how to be a leader from a unique program within the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies.

The Peter C. Cook Leadership Academy (CLA) instills leadership excellence in a group of more than 65 undergraduate and graduate GVSU students through a competitive selection process. The program is co-curricular and cross-disciplinary, offering student fellows unmatched opportunities for reflection, engagement, and learning.

Lessons from the CLA are meant to supplement the knowledge gained from coursework. Fellows like Joseph Ohaeche ’23 focus on soft skills like communication and conflict resolution. Experience in these areas help Joseph lead his peers in his cybersecurity classes.

“The set of programs organized by the CLA  is geared toward intentional, professional, and personal growth, which isn’t necessarily taught in classrooms but is essential for individual growth,” explains Joseph.

These skills are imparted to fellows through a variety of methods, including leadership lectures, individualized mentorship, interactive workshops, and community networking events. Faith Kidd ’23 intended to use these opportunities to the fullest. The CLA encourages students to make the program their own, which inspired Faith to organize a program that interested her.

“The CLA helped me fund an experience through The Washington Campus Program,” explains Faith. “Through the National Security Seminar at Washington, D.C., I was able to tour the Supreme Court, go to lectures taught by Georgetown faculty, and spend eight full days in Washington, D.C.”

Together, these experiences result in a more developed understanding of leadership. For David Pevic, Class of 2024, the CLA turned his entire perception of leadership upside down.

“I learned that leadership is not only focused on achieving better results, and effective leadership does not mean a conclusion is complete at the end of every meeting,” reflects David.  “Rather, leadership is a mindset; it’s a lens that governs how I interact with my team. It pervades every part of my lifestyle and relationships.”

Such revelations on leadership would not be possible without the connections that guide students through this period of learning. For Samuel Jacobs ’22, Class of 2023, these connections have set him up for success beyond Grand Valley.

“I can credit the jobs I have now to the connections I made through CLA,” said Samuel. “The biggest benefit is being able to build relationships over time, whether through events, opportunities, or mentorships. The relationships I made through the CLA will last me a lifetime.”

Relationship building is perhaps the most valuable skill in leadership, one that David learned through interactions with CLA staff who were invested in his success at GVSU.

“The biggest benefit to participating in the CLA is the people you meet,” said David. “The best, however, may be the CLA staff themselves, who are an incredible bunch. They do such a fantastic job making the CLA the wonderful experience it is.”

Read more about the Cook Leadership Academy and Megan Rydecki, Director of the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies.

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