Creative Leadership, Innovation and Service - Blue Hen Leadership Program

11/15/2023

Hey everyone - I hope you are all doing well. We are preparing for another amazing alternative winter break program in Puerto Rico and are looking for support - any amount helps!

Through a generous and anonymous donor, we have the opportunity to unlock a full $10,000.00 gift if we get at least 40 unique donors of any amount. That means that if you give even $5.00 to support this program, you can help us get $10,000.00 to support students going on the program this year.

Please consider giving to support current students on this program! Also of note - BHLP and UDaB alternative breaks have fully merged under our new office located in the Perkins Student Center.

Support your passion. HenFunder is UD's crowdfunding platform that provides a quick, easy and effective way to raise funds for a variety of campus projects, scholarships, athletic programs and other much needed student resources.

06/30/2023

More updates! With recent changes in our structure and programs, we've got a new name! We are now Creative Leadership, Innovation, and Service! This unit houses the national award winning Blue Hen Leadership Program, Quest summer leadership experience, UDaB (University of Delaware Alternative Breaks) and more! Come check us out in 147 Perkins Student Center!

06/14/2023

We've Moved!! After more than a decade being in the Trabant University Center we now have a full suite with all of our staff in one location - in the Perkins Student Center! Come by and see us - Perkins 147 (across from the Rodney Room!)

01/25/2023

BHLP students on our Winter Alternative Break Program worked with this organization!

12/14/2022

So Proud of BHLP Alum Nick Martin!!

In addition to closing our seed round last month, led by Azolla Ventures, I am happy to report Jo and I are honorees of the Forbes Class of ... 31 comments on LinkedIn

06/01/2022

Congratulations to Kisner, BHLP Tier 4 Graduate!!

https://www.udel.edu/udaily/2022/may/cullen-kisner-high-index-senior-2022/

05/10/2022

Come join a Tedx salon talk for a conversation about Gen Z this Thursday. Register: http://ow.ly/v6tT50J3Rrm

03/14/2022

Calling all students, alums, faculty and staff: Do you have that you'd love to share on stage? Apply to be a speaker at TEDxUniversityofDelaware 2022.
http://ow.ly/Ohcy50IhuHL

11/15/2021

Welcome to the last week of November on campus! With that, this is also the FINAL week of workshops for this semester, so PLEASE find time to finish your requirements for Tier 1. How is this possible? Well, our offered workshops this week are: the alumni panel on Monday at 7:30pm; The Art of Networking at 3:30pm and The Leadership Challenge at 5pm on Wednesday; and True Colors at 3:30pm on Thursday.

Remember to fulfill your requirements so there's less to worry about next semester!

Our question of the week is...
For what are you most thankful?

11/08/2021

Welcome to the second week of November! As the semester is winding down, we have limited workshops open. For this week, we have four, yes four! Three of these are REQUIRED workshops for Tier 1 participants: The Leadership Challenge (11/10 @ 3:30pm); Emerging as a Leader (11/11 @ 3:30pm); True Colors (11/11 @ 5pm)!

Remember to fulfill your requirements so there's less to worry about next semester!

To everyone who's already completed these workshops: what's one thing you'll always remember from these workshops?

11/01/2021

Can you believe that it's already November? Well, here's a great way to kick off the month! For this week, we have 2 new workshops and a SPECIAL EVVENT! Make sure to sign up 24 hours in advance to get all that's in store.

Wednesday
5pm: Introduction to Diversity & Social Justice
During this session, we will provide an introduction to cure concepts around power, privilege and oppression, and discuss how these play out in people's lives. We will also discuss the intersection of different social identities and how these impact people's lived experiences, along with how to become an accomplice in creating equitable spaces.

Thursday
3:30pm: Goal Setting
Experts say that people who regularly write down their goals are 80% more likely to achieve success. Learn key goal setting skills as it relates to the 5 Practices of Exemplary Leadership and your personal success. Students must have attended the Leadership Challenge before attending this workshop.

AND... the special event:
Ben Rauhala, who is known for his work on the Disney Princess Concert Series, will be coming to the University of Delaware to share his experience with the business as well as Broadway's efforts to create a more more inclusive workforce on and off stage.
In other to sign up for this event, you MUST RSVP using the Google form in this week's email.

10/24/2021

Welcome to a new week of workshops! For this week of spooktober, we have 5 new workshops to get your spirits ready! Make sure to sign up 24 hours in advance to get all the treats in store.

Monday
3:30pm: True Colors
The first step in effectively leading is to know yourself well. Take a quick and fun assessment that identifies your preferences. leadership style, and areas of comfort level behavior you may want to develop.

Wednesday
3:30pm: Goal Setting
Experts say that people who regularly write down their goals are 80% more likely to achieve success. Learn key goal setting skills as it relates to the 5 Practices of Exemplary Leadership and your personal success. Students must have attended the Leadership Challenge before attending this workshop.

5pm: Villainous Leadership
Examine how characters in pop culture use different aspects of the Power in their leadership. The workshop highlights both protagonists and villains and how they choose to use different means of power to accomplish their goals.

Thursday
3:30pm: Professional Communication
After participating in this workshop, participants will be familiar with creating professional emails using effective communication. Different ways that tone can be perceived through written communication and recognizing common mistakes in email etiquette will be presented. Share some of your own best practices as well as some of your bad experiences.

5pm: Leadership, Disney Style
Walt Disney built his billion dollar company on a set of universal values that many say "make dreams come true." His leadership was based on what he called the 4 C's: Curiosity, Confidence, Courage and Constancy. These values are exemplified in the stories we grew up with, brought to life through Disney films, and they are the core of is expected from Disney employees. Come relive some great movie moments and learn the lessons that are at the heart of the Disney company. Inspired by Disney's emphasis on the power of story, participants in this workshop will begin to craft the story of their own personal leadership journey as well as learn the tools to take their student organizations to the next level of success.

10/17/2021

Welcome to a new week of workshops!

For this week, we are sponsoring Free Speech week, so we have 3 of our workshops, along with information about the events for Free Speech week.

Monday
5pm: Goal Setting
Experts say that people who regularly write down their goals are 80% more likely to achieve success. Learn key goal setting skills as it relates to the 5 Practices of Exemplary Leadership and your personal success. Students must have attended the Leadership Challenge before attending this workshop.

Wednesday
5pm: Dare to Lead
Become a braver leader as you learn about the four empirically-proven skill sets of courageous leadership that are teachable, measurable, and observable. It is difficult to show up and make yourself vulnerable, but we're going to be called upon to show up as leaders in new and uncomfortable ways. We don't have to be perfect, just committed to aligning values with action. In this workshop you will learn to own your fears, to choose courage over comfort, and to become a daring leader.

Thursday
5pm: Get Up, Stand Up: Being A Courageous Bystander
Diversity can be defined in many different ways. We each have a story to tell that helps others to understand our experiences, perspectives, values and choices. In this workshop, participants will create a timeline of life events and experiences that you unique in an exercise to help create connections and understanding through difference.

6pm: How to Bring Change in Your Organization
A humorous, yet challenging, practical buffet of time-tested principles that work for those who have a desire to bring change as a leader of leaders. The goal is for each participant to impact the DNA and leadership values of the organization so that leaders can pass the baton of change in their sphere of influence.

10/10/2021

Welcome to a new week of workshops!

For this week, we have 6, yes 6, workshops that are still available if you register at least 24 hours in advance:

Monday
1:30pm: Why People Are Divided by Politics and What to Do About It
This interactive workshop that will explore the moral foundations of our political beliefs, and reveal that many of our beliefs are rooted in our emotional reactions. Once we are aware of how and why we react the way we do in difficult conversations, we can work to improve our dialogue with others. We will also explore our own cognitive biases that may sometimes guide us in the wrong direction.

3:30pm: Understanding Indigenous People's Day
The Native American Student Alliance (NASA) will be presenting on the importance of active allyship, Native representation in the media and how to support Native communities on campus.

Wednesday
3:30pm: Humble Leadership
A seminar based on an often overlooked characteristic: Humility. Participants will learn why this trait is important for leaders, common misconceptions, and a different wats to develop/implement humility into personal leadership styles.

5pm: True Colors
The first step in effectively leading is to know yourself well. Take a quick and fun assessment that identifies your preferences, leadership style, and areas of comfort level behavior you may want to develop.

Thursday
3:30pm: Diversity Timeline
Diversity can be defined in many different ways. We each have a story to tell that helps others to understand our experiences, perspectives, values and choices. In this workshop, participants will create a timeline of life events and experiences that you unique in an exercise to help create connections and understanding through difference.

5pm: The Power of Language
The most effective leadership involves active inclusion of others. For this workshop, you will step into the Houses of Harlem in the 1980s and the ballrooms of a counterculture. Learn about "mothers" as leaders in the 'Houses' that welcomed the LGBTQIA+ community and how language served as a symbol of unity and allyship. Review the concept of voguing and the influence of the ballroom scene on colloquialism.

Remember: you must sign up 24 HOURS (at bit.ly/BHLPevents) in advance for these workshops in order for our staff to accommodate for everyone attending.

10/03/2021

Congrats on finishing one month of classes, and welcome to a brand new one!

For this week, we have 6 workshops that are still available if you register at least 24 hours in advance at bit.ly/BHLPevents:

Monday
3:30pm: The Leadership Challenge
BHLP Tier 1 is grounded in “The Leadership Challenge”, a model of leadership that focuses on five Exemplary Practices. This workshop will introduce the practices and provide an opportunity to explore how those practices can be incorporated into your personal development as a leader.
5pm: Emerging as a Leader
Welcome to the Blue Hen Leadership Program! Attending this workshop as your first with us will give you an overview of the program, its requirements, benefits, and an introduction to yourself as a leader!

Wednesday
3:30pm: Burnout & Resilience
Although much of our lives are "back to normal", the COVID-19 pandemic upended life as we know it and challenged our resilience for months on end. In this workshop, we'll discuss how to recognize and prevent burnout, and strategies to wire your bain for resilience moving forward.
5pm: Women, Leadership & Communication
The 1987 film "Dirty Dancing" may not seem like a leadership lesson, but it points to key ways that women's voices have been raised to expand opportunities and leadership roles for all women. In this workshop, we will look at effective communication strategies for women in leadership roles and seeking leadership roles. We will also look at the structures and functions of organizations that are still lagging behind the capabilities of contemporary women, and how to navigate in those environments.

Thursday
3:30pm: Ethics & Leadership
Examine real world dilemmas through an ethical frame in this interactive presentation. Those attending should expect to participate in group discussions that will challenge the ideas of right and wrong.
5pm: Addressing the Pressures of
A guided discussion on the realities of emerging adulthood leaning on the stories and advice provided in “The Defining Decade” written by Meg Jay, PhD. Topics include identity development, social media, life balance, and the realities of college life.

09/27/2021

Welcomd to a brand new week of workshops and the fourth week of school! We hope you all are enjoying your time back on campus and settling into a routine.

For this week, we have 3 workshops that are still available if you register at least 24 hours in advance:

Wednesday
5pm: Where Do You Stand?
This human continuum exercise will help participants identify or clarify their own beliefs and values related to sexual assault, sexual harassment & sexual abuse as they consider and discuss a variety of both provocative and common college sexual scenarios. Students will learn what their peers think about when behavior crosses a line. Traditional myths about sexual assault will be de-bunked.

Thursday
3:30pm: Core Concepts for Meaningful Conversations
We've all had a "foot in mouth" moment when we have said something unintentional that causes hurt or misunderstanding. Understanding concepts of micro-aggression, intent vs. impact, and crucial conversations are important leadership competencies. This workshop will help increase your awareness of effective and inclusive communication techniques.

5pm: The Leadership Challenge (counts for BOLT credit &REQUIRED for BHLP Tier 1)
BHLP Tier 1 is grounded in “The Leadership Challenge”, a model of leadership that focuses on five Exemplary Practices. This workshop will introduce the practices and provide an opportunity to explore how those practices can be incorporated into your personal development as a leader.

Remember to register for Tier 1 and these workshops at least 24 hours in advance so we can provude the appropriate amount of materials. Hope to see you there!

09/20/2021

Welcome to a brand new week of workshops and the third week of school! We hope you all are enjoying your time back on campus and learning the ropes of organization.

For this week, we have 3 workshops that are still available if you register at least 24 hours in advance:
Wednesday
3:30pm: Professional Communication (Counts for BOLT credit)
After participating in this workshop, participants will be familiar with creating professional emails using effective communication. Different ways that tone can be perceived through written communication and recognizing common mistakes in email etiquette will be presented. Share some of your own best practices as well as some of your bad experiences.

5pm: Leading Across International Cultures
Everyone knows that there are differences among cultures, but it is harder to realize how those differences impact leadership strategies and outcomes. By examining five dimensions that span all cultures, we can gain insight into a culture’s mindset and how leadership and followership are impacted.

Thursday
3:30pm: The Leadership Challenge (counts for BOLT credit &REQUIRED for BHLP Tier 1)
BHLP Tier 1 is grounded in “The Leadership Challenge”, a model of leadership that focuses on five Exemplary Practices. This workshop will introduce the practices and provide an opportunity to explore how those practices can be incorporated into your personal development as a leader.

***Remember to attend the required workshops for Tier 1 and BOLT

Go to bit.ly/BHLPevents to register for Wednesday’s and Thursday’s workshops and https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf1nmGZFS4bsjiE6i1xlJJRN1vjFeaGNzKh4ePBtZWlUPr4gw/viewform to register for Tier 1.

07/01/2021

Susan Luchey and UCLA colleague Josh O'Connor win ALE Distingued Presentation award from Association of Leadership Educators 2021