Seminar Features Skill-Building, Nationally Recognized Speaker

Twenty-five Rider University students recently participated in a leadership skills-building seminar, organized by Rider’s Center for the Development of Leadership Skills. The event, Team Leadership Challenge: AmaZING! Race, featured Nancy Hunter Denney, a nationally recognized author, leadership trainer and educator, as its keynote speaker. The event was held on Sunday, March 29 on Rider’s Lawrenceville campus.

Denney specializes in higher education and nonprofit organizations. During the seminar at Rider, she offered students hands-on leadership experiences, a comprehensive understanding of leadership styles, and training in interpersonal skills, such as communicating, influencing others and working in a team.

Laura Seplaki, associate director of the Center for the Development of Leadership Skills and director of the Leadership Development Program, said she met Denney at the Leadership Educators Institute last December.

“Nancy provided a presentation at the institute, and I admired her energy, enthusiasm, and knowledge,” Seplaki said. “I felt that she would be able to provide students with a fun, interactive, and educational experience.”

Students who participated in the activities are members of the Leadership Development Program, housed in the Center for the Development of Leadership Skills, as well as representatives from the Student Government Association, Greek Life and the Residence Halls Association. The participants included:

Marisa Arduini of Lawrenceville, N.J., a freshman Chemistry major; Maidul Begum of Trenton, N.J., a senior Accounting major; Samantha Bremerman of Trenton, N.J., a freshman General Liberal Arts major; Shelby Deusenbery of Naples, N.Y., a freshman Psychology major; Kim Doerrhoefer of Brick, N.J., a sophomore Finance and Management major; Caroline Downing of Laytonsville, Md., a sophomore Communication major; Andy Garcia of Cedar Grove, N.J., a sophomore Marketing and Advertising dual major; Lauren Gregorio of Howell, N.J., a junior Elementary Education and Integrated Sciences and Math dual major; Ashley Hines of Jamaica, N.Y., a freshman Biology major; Christine Hogan of Basking Ridge, N.J., a junior Accounting major; Rose Indoe of Sussex, N.J., a senior Accounting and Finance dual major; Joe Landolfi of Wenonah, N.J., a freshman Secondary Education and Spanish dual major; Natalie Lipovetsky of Yardley, Pa., a freshman International Business major; Sofia Martianou of Moorestown, N.J., a freshman Elementary Education and English dual major; Keshia Maughn of Philadelphia, Pa., a senior Finance and Business Economics dual major; Megan McBride of Nutley, N.J., a senior Elementary Education and Integrated Sciences and Math dual major; Erika Miles of Ringoes, N.J., a graduate assistant in the Center for the Development of Leadership Skills and a candidate in the Master of Business Administration program; Jennie Mugrace of Bayonne, N.J., a freshman Political Science major; Ashley O’Hara of Hazlet, N.J., a junior Journalism major; Lauren O’Hara of Harleysville, Pa., a junior Accounting major; Mary O’Hara of Harleysville, Pa., a freshman Advertising and Journalism dual major; Eryn Porcelli of Rahway, N.J., a sophomore Elementary Education and Psychology dual major; Lauren Runza of Little Egg Harbor, N.J., sophomore History and Political Science dual major; Monica Santos of Manalapan, N.J., a freshman Elementary Education and English dual major; Seplaki; Daniel Teixeira of Northford, Conn., a junior Computer Information Systems major; and Stephanie Trabold of Toms River, N.J., a sophomore Journalism major.