Leadership® Center

ILLINOIS
Leadership® Center
the experience you need for life

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CAMPUS OUTREACH
See how we’ve spent our year connecting with students across campus
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EMERGING STUDENT LEADERS
Hear from some of our current student leaders and their experience in our i-programs
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GRAF SPOTLIGHT
Check out our Graf Interns’ experiences and their future endeavors
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LEADERSHIP LEGACY
Look into how the Leadership Center has impacted our alumni beyond their time on campus
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www.leadership.illinois.edu
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CAMPUS OUTREACH
THIS YEAR’S OUTREACH STATISTICS
89
TOTAL NUMBER OF
OUTREACHES IN 2014-2015
7,070
Total number of
students reached
22 25
EVENT BOOTHS
RSO OUTREACHES
10 32
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CLASSROOM OUTREACHES
MARKETING TABLES AND
SPECIAL OUTREACHES

Leadership Campus Conversation
Thanksgiving Drive
Hot Cocoa on the Quad
THANKSGIVING DRIVE
The Thanksgiving Drive is hosted every year through the Office of Volunteer Programs. The ILC jumped on board, seeing that
it was a wonderful opportunity to give back to our community. This year was our second year participating in the Thanksgiving
Drive. We compiled a basket filled with non-perishable food items that would allow for a family to make a complete thanksgiving
day meal. We also donated $50 in gift cards for the family to buy anything perishable. At the ILC, we believe that the spirit of the
holiday should be enjoyed by all.
LEADERSHIP CAMPUS CONVERSATION
Another large initiative the ILC hosted this year was the campus-wide Conversation on Leadership Education. Focus groups were
asked to discuss what skills, values, or attributes a 2021 graduate of Illinois will demonstrate, as well how to approach cultivating
leadership in our students. With over 260 faculty, staff and student participants at four sessions, we had 48 table conversations
which generated over 3000 post-it notes. We were pleased with the extensive input from the conversations and the richness of the
data that we collected. This will assist the ILC as we plan for the next 10 years of leadership education at the University of Illinois.
HOT COCOA ON THE QUAD
In early December of 2014, we hosted “Hot Cocoa on the Quad.” This event was held in order to further engage students and increase
brand awareness of the ILC. Although it was very cold, we ended up giving out 18 gallons of Hot Cocoa and serving around
384 students. We also generated a lot of social media exposure through other campus departments. However, the most fun part
was having different people wear the Hot Cocoa cup costume, as seen in the pictures.
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ALUMNI WORKSHOPS
JACK BOWSHER
IN Illinois alum Jack Bowsher was returning to
September, the Illinois Leadership Center was
proud to announce that former University of
campus to speak about “rising to the executive ranks.”
Jack graduated from U of I in Accounting and obtained
his MBA from the University of Chicago. He began his
illustrious career with IBM as a sales trainee. He rose
through the ranks to become the Director of Management
Development, a position in which he was responsible
for training over 400,000 employees while also
managing a budget of $900 million. He later went on to
author four books. With such an impressive resume, it
was a great honor to be gifted the opportunity to hear
Jack Bowsher speak.
Jack stressed the importance of leadership skills, stating
that they are imperative to achieving an executive position.
“Leadership skills are required in EVERY organization,”
stated Jack Bowsher. He shared with the crowd his
unique methodology for management that is essential in
every organization: Vision. Goals. Strategy.
Every single organization must have a vision. They
must envision a future and maintain direction to drive
forward and advance. But what is a vision? A vision is
a picture of the future that evokes passion in an organization
and according to Jack, it is this passion that
people want to follow. An organization that lacks a
clear vision is like “a river without banks - it stagnates
and goes anywhere or nowhere.”
Is it enough to have a vision? Jack would say no.
Within this vision, there must be goals that an organization
can rally around to achieve their vision. The
achievement of an organization’s goals imply the accomplishment
of the organization’s mission. Without
these goals, no vision will be recognized.
Lastly, Jack introduced the concept of a strong strategy.
Within each goal, there must exist a strategy to accomplish
the goal. This strategy may take weeks, months,
or even years to accomplish, but persistence is key.
The strategy must be “an embraceable strategy, not an
impossible one.” This is the roadmap to accomplishing
organizational goals. Upon firm execution of these three
essential tools, one is equipped with the ability to contribute
as a successful leader in an environment.
At the conclusion of Jack Bowsher’s lecture, students
were given the opportunity to ask questions.
As expected, Jack responded with the most enlightening
of answers in an effort to encourage all
students to practice his initiatives. After the question
and answer portion, a small post-presentation
reception was held in which all guests were free to
mingle with one another and with Jack. The event
proved to be a special one. It was a great pleasure
to have the opportunity to bring back such a distinguished,
successful leader. The Illinois Leadership
Center appreciates Jack Bowsher’s time and willingness
to return to the Urbana-Champaign!
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ALUMNI WORKSHOPS
ALEX BRATTON
Alex Bratton, CEO and Chief Greek of Lextech
Global Services and University of Illinois
alumnus was welcomed back to campus to
talk to students about technical leadership in March.
Ever since he was young, Bratton has worked with
technology and his understanding for technological
knowledge has only grown since then. As CEO of
Lextech Global Services, his company combines business
and technology to solve problems through the
development of apps and software. His company also
aids a variety of groups from the military to farmers.
Bratton is passionate about his company and shared
his insights about the growing market of technology
with students.
He returned to campus to give University of Illinois
students his “need-to-knows” of running a successful
business. Bratton presented the idea that great teams
start with great leadership. He spoke of what it meant
to be a leader—such as, knowing when to say no,
asking questions, starting simply, knowing one’s own
strengths, and testing potential employees’ stress management
under tight deadlines. He revealed that having
the right team creates a better work environment.
Alex Bratton also discussed the types of innovation
that every company should have. He believes that
companies should invest the most time into starting
with core innovation in order to make the best products
even better. He suggested that time should then
be spent in adjacent innovation that involves reaching
out to new customers with current products or creating
new products for current customers. Lastly, he brought
up the need for time in disruptive innovation which is
innovation in markets that do not yet exist and how
to present new ideas to the public. Because timing
is everything, Alex Bratton shared how the best time
to release a new product is when the public is ready.
It’s important not only because technology is always
changing, but also because of the current projects in
the world of technology such as drones, commercial
space flight, internet of things, digital manufacturing,
and mobile apps.
Since drones are among his favorite new technological
advances, Alex showed a video taken by one
of his drones of a pumpkin being dropped from one
hundred and fifty feet up in the air. In addition, he
revealed that Lextech isn’t all work and no play—employees
enjoy riding scooters and go-carts around the
office as well as participating in the annual Halloween
costume dress up to a local restaurant.
After the workshop, students were able to talk to Alex
Bratton and the Director of Talent Acquisition, Chad
Lilly, about employment at Lextech and further questions
on the topics mentioned in the workshop. Our
thanks goes out to Alex for coming back to campus
to share his insights and knowledge with the students
wanting to learn more about technical leadership.
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EMERGING LEADERS
HEAR WHAT OUR INSPIRING LEADERS
ON CAMPUS HAVE TO SAY
“The greatest development aspect the ILC has provided is exposure. Between
meeting with Dr. Rosch, to discussions with CEO's and established entrepreneurs,
I was able to adjust my schema of professional-mannerisms and set goals for my
career that I did not previously know existed. I hope the ILC's presence continues
to grow and affect other students as positively as it has affected me.”
— RICKY RIVERA
Junior, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences - Psychology
“I ended up adding the Leadership Studies minor that has allowed me to engage
with other students and staff who work in the ILC and I have learned more about
leadership from an academic and theoretical perspective. Every encounter I’ve
had with those who are involved in the ILC in any capacity has been positive and
extremely rewarding!”
— SHANNON PARISH
Junior, College of Applied Health Sciences - Kinesiology
“I have participated in both the Intersect and Integrity I-Programs, and I was also a small
group facilitator for Intersect. These day-long leadership conferences target the qualities
that are imperative for all leaders to exhibit, and I am eager to attend all five of the programs
before I graduate. Participating in these I-Programs is also aiding me in achieving
my Leadership Studies Certificate. Being able to reflect on my experiences inside and
outside the classroom will provide a tangible portfolio that portrays how much I have
grown as a leader and an overall individual when I graduate from the University of Illinois
and enter the workforce.”
— BROOKE HEIDEWALD
Sophomore, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences - Communications
“I attended the Imprint I-Program to fulfill my goals and applications to myself,
which is to become a better leader in my community. I also participated in order
to grow and be a part of the University of Illinois campus as this is one of the
most prestigious and most important leadership programs. Above all, the top
reason for attending Imprint was for me to grow as a person.”
— MILOSZ TOMASZEWSKI
Freshman, Division of General Studies
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LEADERSHIP LEGACY
A CONVERSATION
with CECILIA MACIAS
WHAT KIND OF LEADERSHIP POSITIONS DID YOU HAVE AS A COLLEGE STUDENT BEFORE?
I was a very over-involved student during my four years at U of I and held several leadership positions. Some of
them included my position as a Multicultural Advocate in residence life and my involvement with La Casa Cultural
Latina as a Student Program Coordinator. I was also the president of a Latino organization called LaFe and was
a Graf Intern at the Illinois Leadership Center (ILC) my senior year.
HOW DID THOSE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS BENEFIT YOUR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT?
I am grateful for all the ways I was involved as a student because I made strong mentors and developed skills
I would not have been able to develop if it was not for the responsibilities I was entrusted with. I learned how to
maintain professional relationships with peers and supervisors and discovered what I wanted to do as a profession.
I also developed administrative skills and programming skills which helped me with future positions.
HOW DID THE ILLINOIS LEADERSHIP CENTER IMPACT YOU?
I absolutely loved the Leadership Center as a student and love it even more as a working professional. The work
that the ILC does is truly amazing! Through I-Programs and leadership courses I discovered concepts like self
awareness, emotional intelligence, and learned leadership theories and models that helped me reflect on who I
was and what I wanted to be. I was able to develop interpersonal skills, communication skills, and understand the
importance of integrity in any leadership position.
WHAT DO YOU VALUE THE MOST AS A LEADER?
I value teamwork, communication, integrity, and positive social change. We all have different strengths and can
use them to impact our community. It is important not to lose sight of the greater picture and that, in my heart, is
not forgetting about our neighbor.
DO YOU HAVE SOME SUGGESTIONS TO COLLEGE STUDENTS IN TERM OF LEADERSHIP?
My advice would be to make the most of your four years in college and get involved. I do not think anyone
should join tons of organizations because it is always better to commit to one or two than to be in several and
do a bad job in all of them because you become "too busy”. Find what your values and passions are and give
back to the community by being involved in something. Trust me, you will not regret the valuable experience
gained, the mentors you will meet, and the memories you will make along the way. Oh and do not forget...
anyone can be a leader!
www.leadership.illinois.edu 8

GRAF SPOTLIGHT
MEET OUR GRAF INTERNS AT THE ILC
STEPHANIE RICHARTZ
KELSEY KOVACH
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Stephanie Richartz is a senior studying Industrial Engineering
with a concentration in manufacturing, supply
chain, and logistics also pursuing a minor in communication.
During her time with the Illinois Leadership Center
as a Graf Intern she worked primarily on coordinating
the Intersect I-Program which was put on three times
during the academic year. In addition she teamed with
the other Graf Interns to make an office resource that
aids student and professional staff workers in the creation
of customizable leadership activity presentations
for students. Finally, Stephanie played a significant role
in the recruitment of next year’s Graf Interns. She is excited
to pass the torch to the new Graf interns and watch
them develop the way she did. When asked about her
experience at the Leadership Center she responded,
“Working in the Leadership Center is unlike any other
experience I have had. I have learned about myself,
relationships with others, communicating, and growing
as a leader. This opportunity has been an incredibly
rewarding challenge.”
After graduation Stephanie will be moving to Chicago to work
as a Business & Systems Integration Analyst at Accenture
Technology. Although this career choice is much different than
her position at the Leadership Center, when asked about it
she responded, “The position I will hold after graduation will
challenge me in different ways than the Leadership Center did.
However, there is no doubt I will bring a strong set of values and
leadership skills with me to my future career.” Stephanie really
values her experience at the Leadership center as well as the
relationships that she established and the impact she was able
to make for students on campus. Her leadership journey is just
beginning and she is hungry to become the best person and
leader that she is capable of being.
Kelsey Kovach is a senior studying Molecular and Cellular
Biology with a minor in Spanish Linguistics. Having worked the
previous year as a leadership paraprofessional, she returned
to the Illinois Leadership Center for the 2014-2015 academic
year to step into a new position, the John Graf Internship. This
new position brought with it an array of new responsibilities
and challenges, but has served to be the most rewarding and
introspective experience she has had during her time at UIUC.
During this past year at the ILC, Kelsey has had a myriad of
opportunities to grow and develop as a professional and as a
leader. She predominantly coordinated one of the ILC’s day-long
leadership programs, Petullo Insight, and also had the opportunity
to co-coordinate the 2015 UIUC LeaderShape Institute.
When asked about her experience this year, Kelsey replied with
the following, “My time as a Graf Intern has challenged me in
all the ways that I needed to be challenged as I transition into a
new and exciting chapter in my life. This year I have been able
to perfect a solid foundation of skills, including self-awareness,
managing project effectiveness, creating change, and building
community. I will undoubtedly utilize these skills throughout the
rest of my career.”
One of the most salient lessons Kelsey has learned during her
time at the Leadership Center was the importance of “following
your passions, working within an area that provides both intrinsic
fulfillment as well as the ability to make a difference.” Kelsey’s
influential experience as a Graf intern provided her with an
array of new insights that built her courage to change career
directions from physical therapy to student affairs and student
development. After graduation, Kelsey has passionate plans to
attend graduate school to obtain a master’s in Higher Education,
as well as serving in the US Peace Corps. No matter where she
ends up, Kelsey is confident that the skills she has built through
the Illinois Leadership Center will bring her great success.

LOUIS BLANC
SARA BRUMM
Louis Blanc is a senior from Manchester, Missouri graduating
with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. During his time as
a Graf Intern this past year he coordinated the Ignite Program,
which is dedicated to teaching students how to lead sustainable
change within their organizations, a great passion of Louis’. Besides
coordinating Ignite, Louis said he greatly enjoyed working
on other projects for the Center including Graf Intern Recruitment,
the annual presentation to the Student Fee Advisory Committee,
I-Program Assessment, and a proposal to develop an
ILC workshop series. When asked what he enjoyed most about
his Internship experience at the ILC Louis was quick to state,
“The relationships I’ve built have been incredible! Between the
student staff, campus professionals, and university alumni, the
number of distinguished leaders you interact with through this
experience is truly unparalleled. I will especially treasure the
friendships I made with my fellow Graf Interns!”
After graduation Louis will be moving to Chicago to start his career
at Baker Tilly Virchow Krause as a Business Consultant. In
addition to work, he looks forward to staying involved in student
leadership development as a certified presenter for a leadership
development program offered through his service fraternity,
Alpha Phi Omega, and by coming back to campus to facilitate
I-Programs for the ILC. Louis’ final thought on post-undergrad
life was, “Whatever challenges I encounter after graduation, I
am well equipped to overcome them thanks to my experiences
through the Leadership Center.”
Sara Brumm is a junior double majoring in Psychology and
English. As a Graf Intern, Sara spent the majority of her
time coordinating the Integrity i-Program. She also contributed
to various projects throughout the year, managing
outreach and communication efforts for Graf Intern Recruitment
and working with the other interns to develop an
Outreach Activity Binder that consolidates activities into
themed modules. When asked about her experience, Sara
shared, “the Graf Internship was an enriching opportunity
that challenged me to grow both personally and professionally.
I identified my strengths as a leader, which shaped my
future endeavors and aspirations.”
Next year, Sara will be returning to the Illinois Leadership
Center as a Leadership Paraprofessional. When asked
about the center, Sara replied, “I am so grateful to consider
myself a part of the Illinois Leadership Center. I believe
in the philosophy of the center and am excited to continue
contributing to leadership education that changed my life
and has the potential to change the lives of others.”
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LEADERSHIP LEGACY
A CONVERSATION
with CHRIS DILLON
DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE ILC WHEN YOU WERE A STUDENT.
As an undergraduate I attended many of the I-Programs and my senior year I participated in the inaugural class
of Graf Interns. With a newly established physical presence in the Illini Union, it was an exciting time for the ILC.
Several of the programs offered today were just starting to take shape and I enjoyed participating during the
infancy of the program.
WHY DOES LEADERSHIP MATTER TO YOU?
Leadership is about establishing a vision, creating a positive environment and inspiring others to achieve their
best. We live with the consequences of leadership in our society, both good and bad. Fundamentally, I believe
that the best leaders help others achieve intentional, bold solutions that contribute to a greater good.
HOW HAS THE EXPERIENCE YOU OBTAINED WITH THE ILC IMPACTED YOU IN YOUR
CAREER AND LIFE?
The I-Programs and the Graf Internship provided me with transformative experiences that helped me recognize
my own leadership style. The lessons learned have had a profound impact on the way I approach challenges and
opportunities in my daily life.
ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC SKILLS YOU LEARNED AT THE ILC THAT YOU STILL USE TODAY?
As a real estate developer, my work is largely team-based. The skills I honed as an undergraduate with the ILC
and other campus organizations have had a direct impact on my career. Lessons relating to managing change,
innovation and inspiring teams remain as relevant today as when I learned them.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO STUDENTS THAT ARE THINKING ABOUT GETTING
INVOLVED WITH THE ILC?
The ILC is one of the most important differentiators offered at Illinois. These programs are core to the Illinois
Experience. What are you waiting for?
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www.leadership.illinois.edu

A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE
Even though the school year is coming to an end, the ILC is still going strong!
Many of our students will be off enjoying their summers, starting internships,
or practicing leadership in other capacities. However, the ILC will be busy
with several projects before the Fall semester, including:
» Revising i-Program curriculums & prepping for next year’s programs
» Welcoming new students during admitted student days
» Prepping for our summer session of the Intersect i-Program
» The ILC’s new Associate Director will start preparing our outreach
strategy for the Opening Weekend of the Fall semester
» The continued development of new programs
» Revision of our skills and attributes, with a new list set to be
released in the coming year
Like us and follow us on Facebook and Twitter to join the leadership conversation
and keep up to date with everything going on at the ILC!
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Twitter.com/IL_Leadership
Have any feedback or suggestions for content to add to our next newsletter?
Know any stories or individuals to highlight on our leadership spotlight?
Contact Us & Share!
From all of us at the Illinois Leadership Center,
THANK YOU!
To learn more about the Illinois Leadership Center , please visit:
www.leadership.illinois.edu
Illinois Leadership Center
1401 W. Green Street
290 Illini Union
Urbana, IL 61801
email leadership@illinois.edu
follow us on
telephone (217) 333-0604
fax (217) 265-8464
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