Beyond the Lanyard: Leveraging Student Conferences as Catalysts for Empowering Peer Leader Professional Development

Michael Spivey, Associate Director for Academic Continuance
Bettina Becker, Assistant Director for Peer Assisted Learning
Imani Crawford, Assistant Director for Academic Recovery Mentoring
Southeastern College Learning Center Association Conference; Atlanta, Georgia; June 2026

In the “age of information overload,” professional conferences provide a structured environment that filters noise into meaningful professional development. Utilizing the “leader possible self” construct, this session explores how students bridge the gap between current capabilities and future aspirations. Empowering peer leaders to transition from passive attendees to active contributors—navigating the full cycle from proposal to presentation—cultivates institutional agency, fosters resilience, and transforms professional development into a tangible, actionable roadmap for success.
[Link to Presentation]