CDLS Recognized Nationally

For the second year in a row, Leadership Excellence magazine has recognized Rider University’s Center for the Development of Leadership Skills as one of the premier leadership development programs in the country.

In its “2010 Best in Leadership Development,” Leadership Excellence recognizes top leadership programs at higher-education institutions, including the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Yale Leadership Institute, as well as programs at corporate, nonprofit, government and consulting organizations.

A complete list of rankings can be found in the October 2010 issue of Leadership Excellence.

John Farrell, director of the Center for the Development of Leadership Skills (CDLS), said the ranking illustrates the continued success of CDLS and its Leadership Development Program (LDP), a four-year program designed for students of all majors.

“We are once again honored to be distinguished as a top leadership program among so many great universities, corporations and government organizations,” Farrell said. “Our ranking is a testament to our commitment to offer programs that enable our students to become effective leaders.”

Since 2004, CDLS has served as the leadership training and education resource for the entire University and its surrounding community. The Center has hosted a number of programs designed for women in transition, aspiring executive leaders, student performers in the arts and athletics, as well as lecture series, leadership trips and career workshops.

LDP combines academic learning with intensive skill training and supervised leadership experience through co-curricular activities, experiential learning, fieldwork, and community service. Upon successful completion of the program, students earn the Leadership Certificate.

Laura Seplaki, associate director of CDLS and director of Leadership Development Program, said the Center has continued to expand its programming to meet the needs of undergraduate and graduate students from a range of academic backgrounds.

“Student involvement in CDLS programming has increased steadily for the past two years to a point where we are reaching well over 800 students annually and our goal is to continue to grow that number,” Seplaki said. “We plan to collaborate with more organizations on and off campus, including regional universities and corporate leadership programs, as well as alumni.”

The Center for the Development of Leadership Skills is housed in Rider University’s College of Business Administration, which is AACSB-accredited for undergraduate and graduate Business and Accounting programs. For more information about the Center and its Leadership Development Program, please visit http://www.rider.edu/cdls.