NCCWSL Leadership Conference

The National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL), sponsored by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA), is the only conference that brings together college women to address important and contemporary leadership issues and also promotes career development, job search readiness, and success in the workplace. Students return home ready to improve their campuses and communities.

Each year the Women’s Resource Center, supported by many campus departments, coordinates sending UM-Dearborn women students to this conference. In 2011, 26 UM-Dearborn women attended.  Travel was via charter bus and we had the opportunity to network with 10 other students from five Michigan colleges and universities who rode on our bus to the conference. In 2012, the program grew to include 34 UM-Dearborn students, 27 students from 13 other Michigan colleges and universities and two buses. In addition to being supported by their schools, students are  sponsored by their local American Association of University Women branch. Next year’s conference will be May 30-June 1, 2013 at the University of Maryland, College Park just outside of Washington DC.

NCCWSL 2011 Participant: I was challenged to investigate the diverse points of view held by various women leaders and learned to appreciate the differences among us. I was always aware that women leaders were not a monolith, but this experience led me to understand that our diversity is part of our strength and our ability to respect one another’s experiences and viewpoints is part of what unites us in our shared pursuit of social justice and positive change.

NCCWSL 2011 Participant:  Attending National Conference for College Women Student Leaders 2011 allowed me to develop a different kind of self-confidence, a confidence in a form of courage, so to speak, that burnt through me, that fearlessness in dealing with complex obstacles of life. When I had the opportunity to participate and attend the workshop sessions, Graduate School Fair, keynote speakers and most importantly, Women of Distinction Awards Ceremony, I felt that I could achieve anything I set out to do, even if it seemed impossible…

For more information about the conference, please visit www.nccwsl.org.  

NCCWSL 2012 Group Photo