For over 35 years, the National Student Leadership Conference has relied on the dedication of its staff to make our summer programs a once-in-a-lifetime experience for each of our students. Every year, these enthusiastic and hardworking individuals devote significant time and energy to ensure the summer is a success. Planning 30+ career-focused summer programs is no small feat, and to kick off each year, NSLC hosts an Admin Training Weekend where our administrative staff come together to develop their leadership skills and prepare for the summer ahead.
This year’s NSLC Admin Training was hosted in Chicago, IL, bringing together our administrative teams representing all 14 NSLC locations. These staff members flew to the Windy City from all over the country and abroad for an extended weekend of leadership development, collaboration, and hands-on training.
Our admin staff includes:
- Site Directors, the leaders of the leaders at each NSLC location
- Program Directors, responsible for academic schedules, planning industry field trips, guest speaker coordination, and hiring our amazing Team Advisors who work with students, and
- Assistant Site Directors and Office Managers, who help manage site operations and logistics to keep the programs running smoothly
Each role requires extensive training and preparation, making this weekend an essential kickoff to a successful summer!
Developing Engaging Programs
Our Academics team led the first day of training with specialized rotations designed to familiarize both new and returning admin with NSLC’s core values and how they show up in our programming. Experiential learning is a core principle of our programming, and a highlight of these rotations is the time our staff gets to strategize and brainstorm on how to offer hands-on learning experiences that our students can’t encounter in a regular classroom setting. Admin Training is where our simulations and projects get created, updated, and perfected, and our staff members really enjoy the opportunity to contribute to these conversations and create the lesson plans that we’ll use throughout the summer, ensuring our students gain practical skills they can apply in their future careers.
Creating the NSLC Culture
Day Two focused on developing a positive work culture and outlining the importance of mental and physical safety throughout a summer of programming. The NSLC can be just as much of a life-changing experience for our staff members as it is for our students, and these workshops touched on
- effective leadership and staff management,
- hiring and mentorship strategies, and
- understanding the hierarchy of needs for both students and staff.
Diversity & Inclusion is another core principle of the NSLC, and part of this day’s training included a guest lecture from our DEIA consultant who emphasized the significance of accessibility and equity in academic programming. Part of the responsibility of our administrative team is to anticipate the needs of dozens of summer staff members and hundreds of students, so these workshops are a great resource to ensure a great summer experience for everyone.
The final day of training focused on exploring our various NSLC locations and their unique characteristics. This time is especially valuable for staff members who may be new to their location, generating excitement about what each site offers. From our Georgetown University and American University programs visiting the nation’s monuments in Washington, D.C., to our Marine Biology program going whale watching in beautiful Vancouver, Canada, each location provides a unique industry perspective and numerous academic opportunities for both staff and students to enjoy.
We concluded the weekend with encouraging words from our Executive Director, Kristina Duffy Hoffman, and celebrated another successful Admin Training weekend with a group photo!
Want to join our team?
If you’re interested in job opportunities with NSLC, check out our summer staff job postings! Applications open each year in January, and we’re always looking for great staff members passionate about leadership, mentorship, and experiential learning for the next generation.