Students invited to tap into sense of adventure

CWU to launch online student leadership program this spring

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A new and unique leadership program will be available to all CWU students during spring quarter, and the March 15 application deadline is approaching quickly.

Headed by Assistant Professor of Sociology Dr. Gary Myers, the LeadTogether program takes place in a virtual world where participants learn leadership skills and practice guiding others through a series of adventures and quests.

Myers' research on skills developed in virtual spaces shows that leadership abilities and communication skills are highly transferable from a virtual platform to real-world scenarios. Through the LeadTogether program, students are given opportunities to explore a new approach to learning in an online, fantastical world.

The program gives students the opportunity to practice and develop skills they will need in their future careers, such as communication, project management, and knowledge of team dynamics. At the same time, it provides a sense of community among participants who are looking for a way to get involved on campus.

Another unique aspect to the LeadTogether program is that students remain anonymous in the virtual world, where they are represented by fictional avatars they create for themselves. This dynamic allows participants to feel more comfortable and free to be themselves during the sessions.

As a senior psychology major who participated in the program’s pilot noted: “The anonymous portion was definitely a deciding factor in my participating in the program. I liked that I wouldn’t be automatically judged by any of my physical traits and got to show my whole personality.”

The online application deadline for students interested in participating for the spring quarter is next week. To learn more and sign up for LeadTogether, visit the webpage on the CWU Sociology Department’s site.