Announcements

Introducing the New Office of Student Leadership and Engagement

Student Involvement and Leadership and Civic Engagement have unified to form the new office of Student Leadership and Engagement, which will focus on improving student programs and services and open up new avenues to expand the culture of involvement at NC State.

February 23, 2021 phsmith 2-min. read

A group of students pack boxes of food — Students pack boxes of food at Leadership and Civic Engagement's Stop Hunger event in 2019

After existing as two independent departments, Student Involvement and Leadership and Civic Engagement have united to form Student Leadership and Engagement. The new unit strives to benefit and improve key programs and services at NC State and open up new avenues to expand the culture of involvement at the university. It also reaffirms the department’s commitment to making involvement opportunities accessible to all students.

The unification process began in the spring and summer months of 2020 and continued through the fall. As a new unit, Student Leadership and Engagement strives to create a more congruent, accessible and healthy environment for NC State students, campus partners and each other. According to Melissa Green, director of Student Leadership and Engagement, the unification brings together the talent of a dynamic team of professionals across several student, campus and community-facing programs and initiatives.

“I am humbled and privileged to serve as the inaugural leader of Student Leadership and Engagement,” Green said. “We have a uniquely talented and passionate team of staff and students that is excited to combine our talents and strengths to serve our students and engage with the community. Together, we are committed to facilitating purposeful involvement and leadership development that supports and enhances students’ academic experience. We engage students in meaningful and memorable involvement experiences that create a sense of belonging, and we equip them with the knowledge, tools and experiences to practice socially-responsible leadership and contribute to a global society.”

During the unification process, Green and her colleagues have remained committed to seeking and incorporating feedback from faculty, staff and students. Additionally, the new unit has taken steps to examine existing programs and operations of each department and determine the best path forward.

We engage students in meaningful and memorable involvement experiences that create a sense of belonging, and we equip them with the knowledge, tools and experiences to practice socially-responsible leadership and contribute to a global society.”
– Melissa Green, director of Student Leadership and Engagement

“During the 2020-2021 academic year, we have prioritized an intentional, thorough and strategic approach to benchmark, assess, design and co-create a premier student and community serving unit,” Green said. “We have also used very intentional shared language by approaching this as an opportunity to unify vs merge — where we incorporate the aspirations of both departments and preserve the best of the traditions and cultures whenever and wherever possible.”

The following departments and programs are now part of Student Leadership and Engagement: