Chellgren Center Welcomes Hundreds to Campus for Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Conference
LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 15, 2022) — The University of Kentucky Nu Circle of national leadership honor society Omicron Delta Kappa (OΔK) and the Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence recently co-hosted the OΔK National Leadership Conference June 2-5. The conference offered attendees an opportunity to learn from nationally recognized leaders, discover best practices as an honor society and acknowledge award achievement.
"The Chellgren Center was pleased to welcome the National OΔK Conference to our campus,” Luke Bradley, acting chair for the Chellgren Center and Chellgren Endowed Professor, said. “We hope that this meeting generated much discussion, new collaborations and the exchange of new ideas for developing the next generation of leaders."
The weekend began with featured speaker Steve Rohr, Hollywood publicist, media expert, author and educator. As founder of Lexicon Public Relations, he represents actors, recording artists and films. Rohr also serves on OΔK’s National Awards Committee.
The next day featured speaker Everett McCorvey. McCorvey is the founder and music director of the American Spiritual Ensemble; the director and executive producer of the University of Kentucky Opera Theatre; president of Global Creative Connections, a production and management company for musical and theatrical events; and the artistic director of the National Chorale. Following his presentation, attendees participated in breakout sessions, tours of UK’s campus and the student vice chair web forum and election.
To wrap up the weekend, attendees had the opportunity to see featured speaker Sydnee McElroy, family doctor and assistant professor at the Marshall University School of Medicine. Following her address, the conference agenda included networking opportunities, workshops, a showcase, a closing banquet and an awards ceremony.
“It was fantastic to get to learn leadership skills and techniques from many different members from around the country,” Kendall Rollman, senior human health sciences major and conference attendee. “I felt very empowered being surrounded by so many leaders and loved learning more about the OΔK society.”
“We thank Lynn Hiler and the conference organizers for organizing this outstanding event,” Bradley said. “Their many months of planning resulted in productive sessions, networking and sharing Lexington and the University of Kentucky with the attendees.”
To view a wrap-up video of the conference, click here.
OΔK recognizes and encourages superior leadership, exemplary character and collaboration among members across the five pillars of leadership: academics and research, athletics, service to campus and community, communications and creative and performing arts. Founded in 1914 at Washington and Lee University, OΔK honors and develops leaders through scholarships, workshops, career development, leadership resources and a lifelong connection to other members.
At the university, OΔK is supported by the Chellgren Center within the Office of the Provost. For more information on membership, contact chellgrencenter@uky.edu.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.