On November 1st, 2nd and 3rd, 2013, I had the awesome pleasure of once again participating in the Annual Robert Lynch Student Leadership Development Institute (SLDI). The SLDI is a weekend conference for African American college students and other underrepresented groups at Pennsylvania colleges and universities. The hope is that the participants who attend the SLDI will return to their respective campuses as change agents and trailblazers. Indeed, many who have attended the SLDI have accomplished this goal. To prove this point, two of the SLDI keynote speakers Dr, William Davis Jr. and Mrs. Lashonna Smith, are former SLDI participants. Dr. Davis is an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Counseling at Alvernia University. Mrs. Smith is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity degree from the interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, GA, and is happily married to Rev. Dr. Jahkimmo Smith, Pastor of Mount Zion AMEC in Southampton, Bermuda. Both of these speakers along with Dr. Michael Miller, U.S. Ambassador of Adult Education, and Founder of the Beating the Odds Foundation, gave tremendous presentations that touched all in attendance at the SLDI.
This is my 26th year serving as a workshop presenter for the SLDI. The SLDI is celebrating 27 years of excellence in developing future leaders. My wife Patricia has also been a presenter for the past 19 years. We have celebrated 19 years of wedding anniversaries with the SLDI students and faculty. We can’t think of a better way to celebrate our love for each other, than to be present at the SLDI and touch some of the past, present and future leaders of this world. We consider this to be God’s blessing to us.
SLDI is a part of the Black Conference on Higher Education, Inc., which also holds an annual conference for educators and students. The Conference was established, in 1971, by the HONORABLE k. Leroy Irvis, who was at that time, the Minority Leader and Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. SLDI grew out of the Black Conference on Higher Education and was guided by Dr. Robert D. Lynch, Assistant to the President, of Lock Haven University. After his leadership, Mr. Albert W. Jones, a former SLDI participant, and Lock Haven University Administrator, became the SLDI Director. Mr. Jones announced at this year’s conference that he has accepted a position in private industry and is stepping down as the Director. He will be a great lost to SLDI, however, we are blessed to have Mrs. Barbara A. Thompson, from Penn State Harrisburg, serve as the new Director of SLDI. Her experience and long-time leadership position with SLDI makes Mrs. Thompson the best choice to lead this important organization into the future.
I am already looking forward to next year’s SLDI conference. I know that we have many challenges in our communities. There are times that seem so dark and bleak that it makes you want to throw-up your hands and just walk away. The SLDI gives me energy and fuel to take the next step. It keeps my faith strong and toughens my resolve to stay in the fight. It reminds me that the fight is worth the battle, the war will be won, education is the key and God is in control. Onward Ever – Backward Never! Thank you SLDI!
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This is my 26th year serving as a workshop presenter for the SLDI. The SLDI is celebrating 27 years of excellence in developing future leaders. My wife Patricia has also been a presenter for the past 19 years. We have celebrated 19 years of wedding anniversaries with the SLDI students and faculty. We can’t think of a better way to celebrate our love for each other, than to be present at the SLDI and touch some of the past, present and future leaders of this world. We consider this to be God’s blessing to us.
SLDI is a part of the Black Conference on Higher Education, Inc., which also holds an annual conference for educators and students. The Conference was established, in 1971, by the HONORABLE k. Leroy Irvis, who was at that time, the Minority Leader and Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. SLDI grew out of the Black Conference on Higher Education and was guided by Dr. Robert D. Lynch, Assistant to the President, of Lock Haven University. After his leadership, Mr. Albert W. Jones, a former SLDI participant, and Lock Haven University Administrator, became the SLDI Director. Mr. Jones announced at this year’s conference that he has accepted a position in private industry and is stepping down as the Director. He will be a great lost to SLDI, however, we are blessed to have Mrs. Barbara A. Thompson, from Penn State Harrisburg, serve as the new Director of SLDI. Her experience and long-time leadership position with SLDI makes Mrs. Thompson the best choice to lead this important organization into the future.
I am already looking forward to next year’s SLDI conference. I know that we have many challenges in our communities. There are times that seem so dark and bleak that it makes you want to throw-up your hands and just walk away. The SLDI gives me energy and fuel to take the next step. It keeps my faith strong and toughens my resolve to stay in the fight. It reminds me that the fight is worth the battle, the war will be won, education is the key and God is in control. Onward Ever – Backward Never! Thank you SLDI!
