Motivational Speaker to Keynote Ole Miss PULSE Conference

A group of University of Mississippi sophomores will kick off 2018 this weekend by attending PULSE – Preparing Undergraduate Leaders, a Student Experience – a leadership conference that brings together students from different campus roles to learn about themselves and their leadership potential.
Randy Gravitt – a motivational speaker, life coach and co-author of the book “Finding Your Way, Discovering the Truth About You” – is set to deliver the keynote address at the Jan. 19-20 event. As president of InteGREAT Leadership, he encourages leaders through his speaking and writing to remain integrity-driven. Among his clients are Chick-fil-A and the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball organization.
The 168 student participants were selected from nominations from more than 40 different student organizations and academic departments on campus. Friday’s events will begin with registration at 3:15 p.m. at The Inn at Ole Miss. Saturday’s sessions will be at the Robert C. Khayat Law Center, beginning with an 8:30 a.m. check-in.
Ole Miss has always been known for its tradition of training future leaders, and PULSE enhances that mission, said Mindy Sutton Noss, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students.
“The PULSE conference is a unique opportunity for sophomore students to network, develop skills and consider the type of leader they want to become,” she said. “Students always speak highly of their experiences with PULSE, and this year’s conference will again feature outstanding speakers and educational offerings for our students.”
Other speakers include Beverly Langford, president of LMA Communication; and the university’s Shawnboda Mead, director of the Center for Inclusion and Cross Cultural Engagement Center; Lionel Maten, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs; and EJ Presley, assistant director of the Career Center.
Presenters will focus their presentations and activities on the three core values of this year’s conference: collaboration, communication and reflection.
“PULSE participants will be exposed to concepts that will help them understand leadership as an expression of self and a means of serving, inspiring and empowering others,” said Suzanne Helveston, career and leadership coordinator of the Ole Miss Women’s Council, a conference host. “We believe strong leadership training significantly impacts our students’ lives, enhancing their time on campus and increasing their success in future careers and community service.”
Upon participating in PULSE, students will learn to:

• Identify and apply knowledge about their behavior styles in leadership roles
• Understand there are many types of leadership
• Appreciate the need to develop interpersonal skills in a leadership role, including communication skills, relationship building and empathy
• Gain an understanding of how leadership applies in the real world

“PULSE helped me to connect with other leaders my age on campus, as well as be exposed to unique leaders on our campus I never even knew about,” said Catrina Curtis, of Nesbit, a student who participated in last year’s conference. “I learned more about myself and my leadership styles and how I could best use them in whatever leadership position I am put in.
“I will always remember the people and practical skills I learned at PULSE.”
PULSE is hosted by the Office of Leadership and Advocacy and the Ole Miss Women’s Council. Sponsors include Chick-fil-A of Oxford and the university’s Division of Student Affairs, Residential Housing Association and Associated Student Body.
For more information, contact Suzanne Helveston, OMWC career and leadership coordinator, at shelveston@olemiss.edu or 662-915-7273.

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Staff Report at the office of Ole Miss Communications
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