Hancock Student Leadership Program
Don’t miss this chance to enhance your leadership potential and join a legacy of excellence at WestConn.
Contact Information
Professor Carol Huang
Director of Hancock Student Leadership Program
Professor of Finance, Ancell School of Business
Email: huangc@wcsu.edu
Please contact Professor Carol Huang with questions about the Hancock Student Leadership Program.
Inspire. Lead. Transform.
Develop your ability to inspire, motivate and influence others
The Hancock Student Leadership Program (HSLP) offers you the opportunity to improve your leadership skills, enhance your resume, build your professional networks and further develop your leadership potential.
HSLP provides students with a $1500 award and a highly placed leadership-shadowing field experience with community leaders in either the fall or spring semester.
We look for motivated, energetic and exemplary students from a variety of academic backgrounds. Our student leaders receive:
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A $1,500.00 stipend
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Three (3) credits of Cooperative Education Internship Credits (CED 297) on successful completion of the program
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An applied learning experience aligned with your major and career interests, centered on developing leadership competencies. This may include a combination of selected activities such as cooperative education, shadowing, service learning, undergraduate research, reflective exercises, and leadership projects
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A public presentation to showcase your accomplishments
Don’t miss this chance to enhance your leadership potential
Join a legacy of excellence at WCSU.
Learn firsthand the skills necessary to become successful leaders
The Hancock Student Leadership Program identifies, promotes and fosters student leaders. The program promotes basic understanding of the skills necessary to be effective leaders by helping you to develop ethics, good communication, compassion and empathy, team and community building, creative problem solving, goal setting, conflict resolution, independent thinking and the financial awareness required for sound fiscal stewardship required for budget management.
HSLP’s ultimate goal is to develop strong future leaders by measuring, testing and encouraging resiliency, adaptability and accountability.
We emphasize:
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Mission/vision articulation
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Leadership styles and philosophies
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Supervision, delegation, evaluation and accountability
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Organizational change and/or evolution
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Organizational, personal and professional ethics
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Risk taking and establishing new paradigms in leadership
HSLP meets WCSU’s mission by providing students with:
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Strong skills in communication, problem solving and critical thinking
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Opportunities for field experiences in leadership
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A strong commitment to public service
For Emily Kappel, the numbers added up to a WestConn education
“Kappel has held several positions within the Student Government Association and participated in the Hancock Student Leadership Program, where she had the opportunity to shadow David Zavarelli, the current Vice President of the WCSU Alumni Association.”
The Hancock Leadership Program provided me with new opportunities and encouraged me to reflect on my future goals.
“It was a unique experience that offered valuable exposure to the commitment and dedication required to become a financial advisor. The program helped me assess my strengths and weaknesses and consider how to apply them not only while shadowing the advisors but also in the role I held at the time. In the end, it shaped my vision for my future and helped me better prepare for life after graduating from Western Connecticut State University. I had the opportunity to work with three advisors, assist them in establishing new accounts, communicate with their clients, and observe how the market at the time influenced investments—an experience that broadened my perspective. I am truly grateful for the opportunity, and if given the chance to participate in the program again, I would not hesitate for a moment.”
The trick to it is planning ahead, and it makes all the difference for your experience here.
“One of the greatest strengths of the HSLP is that it allows students to pursue potential career paths in a thoughtful and intentional way. The program placed me in an environment where I got to learn and train hands on, while being able to explore every element of our local K-12 education system. On top of that, the program helps upskill students through leadership training and growth opportunities, which I had the pleasure of benefiting from. Overall, it was a great program, and I would recommend it to anyone interested! It truly helped set me up for success.”
“I encourage WCSU students to learn more and apply to the Hancock Student Leadership Program – the opportunity to inspire, lead and transform are all present.”
“My experience in the Hancock Student Leadership program was unlike any opportunity I was given throughout my college experience at WCSU. This program challenged me to expand my horizons and step out of my comfort zone in more ways than one. With the opportunity to shadow United Way of Western Connecticut’s CEO, I was able to learn from a variety of top-level leaders, attend finance, marketing and school-based committees and immerse myself in their commitment to community with growing ground-up initiatives. Since then, I have been able to apply these learned skills to every trajectory my career has taken. I encourage WCSU students to learn more and apply to the Hancock Student Leadership Program – the opportunity to inspire, lead and transform are all present. It’s up to you how to use these tools to carve your own unique pathway!”
Alumna Colleen Mair’s 2016 prediction came true with hard work and dedication
“When she graduated from Western Connecticut State University in 2016 with a B.S. in Justice and Law Administration and B.A. in Psychology, Colleen Mair had a huge list of accomplishments under her belt.”
From a first-generation Ecuadorian immigrant to WestConn's Assistant Dean of the School of Graduate, International, and Career Studies.
“The WCSU Hancock Student Leadership Program played a pivotal role in shaping Dr. Coronel’s ability to lead with confidence, persevere through challenges, and mentor students from diverse backgrounds”
