Roshaunda Breeden honored for role in advocating student involvement
Roshaunda Breeden, coordinator of diversity and student involvement in Poole College’s Office of Undergraduate Programs, received the Advocate Award from NC State University’s Center for Student Leadership Ethics and Public Service (CSLEPS).
The campus-wide award was presented to Breeden at the April 21, 2015, Student Leadership, Engagement and Development (L.E.A.D) Award banquet “in recognition of her contributions to student involvement not only in Poole College but across the entire campus,” said Lauren Brown, associate director of advising for undergraduate students at Poole College.
“We are so grateful for Roshaunda’s partnership and support of our work in CSLEPS. The CSLEPS team is small in number and we rely on our partnerships on campus, in the community and around the world to bring our bold vision and goals to reality,” said Melissa Barnes, CSLEPS interim director.
“In recognition of our campus partners who advocate for our work, we recognize one individual each year who embodies the mission of CSLEPS. Roshaunda has been a tremendous supporter and advocate of the Alternative Service Break (ASB) program and has served as an advisor for both fall and spring break trips (Hunger and Homelessness in Washington, DC and Education in the Dominican Republic). She has also provided support for the NC State session of the LeaderShape Institute,” Barnes said.
“Quite often, students from the Poole College of Management participating in our programs credit Roshaunda specifically for encouraging them to participate and become engaged with CSLEPS. We are so grateful for her support,” she said.
This past academic year, Breeden was advisor for students participating in CSLEPS’ Hunger and Homelessness in Washington, D.C. and Education in the Dominican Republic Alternative Service Breaks held during fall and spring break. Poole College had eight students participating in these and other ASB programs in the past year.
“Encouraging students to participate in CSLEPS programs reflects Poole College’s commitment to engaged learning, in the classroom and beyond,” said Shannon Davis, Poole College’s associate dean for undergraduate programs. “In her role as coordinator of diversity and student involvement, Roshaunda has guided and supported our students in establishing several new student organizations in the past few years, including the Diversity Peer Educators, the Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA) and the Black Business Student Association (BBSA). These student organizations are effectively engaging Poole students in leadership, networking, and cultural awareness and support,” Davis said.
For the CSLEP’s LeaderShape Institute, Breeden encouraged 21 Poole students to participate in this leadership retreat with the goal of learning to lead with integrity. As a member of the inaugural LeaderShape class of 2004, participating as an undergraduate student at NC State, Breeden has first-hand experience with the program.
“As an alum of the program I learned to align my passion and my values with my career goals. I want that same purposeful opportunity for Poole students who are the next generation of business leaders. I want them to think critically about the opportunities they have to solve the world’s problems.”
Established in 1986, the LeaderShape Institute now is a nationally recognized leadership development program for young adults. The intensive six-day program is open NC State students interested in producing extraordinary results in an organization and developing a commitment to lead with a high level of integrity, Breeden said.
“Poole College has a vested interest in student engagement and leadership. We want our students to know that when they come to college, they’re not just attending a school; they become part of a globalized, multicultural community with links to people and places all over the world. Programs like Alternative Service Break and LeaderShape help students learn this message in an experiential, engaged way,” Breeden said.
"We know that students who participate in high-impact programs like ASB and LeaderShape will be better prepared for success in the increasingly globalized workplace of the 21st century. NC State provides a rich array of opportunities for students to develop a global perspective and gain cross-cultural skills. It’s our job in the Poole College to connect students to these resources,” she said.
Among the many students who have taken Breeden's advice is Derek Chartier (in photo above), who graduating in May 2015 with a bachelor's degree in economics and minor in accounting. In his two years at Poole College as a transfer student from a community college, Chartier had completed an internship, an international study experience (in Sweden) and was a member of the Poole Council. He spoke with Breeden informally about his future plans during a break is his final exam studies in the Nelson Hall Student Commons.
