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BY DR. FRED TUGAS, STUDENT AND CAMPUS LIFE CHIEF OF STAFF AND AVP OF STRATEGIC OPERATIONS
SPARK SCL
STRATEGY IN ACTION – CULTIV OF LEADERSHIP AND CONTINU
Student and Campus Life’ s vision is to“ inspire and nurture a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and empowerment for campus-based students and employees to succeed.” In the spirit of continuous learning and inspiring an empowered workforce, leadership and management skills are critical for both students and employees( and student employees!), not only to succeed in the moment but to continue growing in place. These skills are central to our strategic plan, advancing both Goal 1: Student Experience and Goal 2: Employee Experience.
While often used interchangeably, leadership and management represent distinct yet complementary skill sets. Leadership is about vision, creating a culture of influence and motivation, and an environment for positive change. It’ s about motivating others, inspiring innovation, and creating opportunities to develop more leaders. Management ensures effectiveness and stability. This is about building systems, executing plans, and maintaining accountability. Together, these dimensions prepare individuals to navigate dynamic environments, clarify roles on a team, and foster employee well-being.
Student and Campus Life promotes leadership learning across multiple dimensions, both in and beyond the classroom. Joining the division in July 2024, the Navy and Army ROTC programs have leadership and management as key components of their curriculum. Dr. Cameron Carlson, Executive Officer of Hampton Roads NROTC, teaches NAVS 401: Leadership and Management, a course that immerses students( both military and civilian) in how to think critically about problems, but also shift their perspective and reframe challenges in ways that strengthen and empower those they lead. NAVS 401 instills what it truly means to be a“ servant leader,” one who leads from the front, places their trust in others, and ensures care at every level. Finally, Dr. Carlson instills one of the most valuable tenets of leadership in the students: Ownership. The course teaches that no matter the situation, problem, success, or failure, everything comes down to ownership. Whether failure or success, a task is measured by the tools a leader provides.
Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Shah, commanding officer of the Monarch Battalion of Army ROTC and professor of military science, teaches military leadership courses with structured, experiential learning that develop maturity, responsibility, and the practical skills needed to lead teams effectively under pressure.
Cadet Wesley Meyers, a senior at ODU and Monarch Battalion Commander, describes his Army ROTC experience:
“ My time at ODU has been an incredible experience. I’ ve had the privilege of working alongside talented individuals while growing both personally and professionally. Army ROTC has prepared me to lead in my career thanks to knowledgeable Cadre and an amazing group of peers. Balancing everything has been challenging, but it’ s also been deeply rewarding. I wouldn’ t trade my experience at ODU or in ROTC for anything, and I’ m excited to see where
this journey takes me.”
The leadership lessons emphasized in ROTC— ownership, service, and empowering others— closely align with SCL’ s care and service commitments. Central among these is the promise to“ be present and provide what’ s needed,” a principle that guides not only how we lead, but also how we recognize and cultivate the talents of those around us.