Testimonial Video: Experience with VIH Pre and Post International Experience

Testimonial Video: Fall Retreat Highlights

The Fall retreat provides the participants an environment that supports processing of international experiences while encouraging participants to extend their experiences to assist in furthering development as women leaders.

Travel

In the event that you are flying to Pittsburgh, you must turn in your boarding pass to the Director.

Fall Leadership Development Retreat

September 14-16, 2018

September 20-22, 2019

Friday: 4pm - 9pm

Saturday: 9am - 9pm

Sunday 9am - 4pm

Please dress business casual for the entirety of the retreat.

It is strongly encouraged that participants bring a laptop to the Sunday session of the retreat.

The focus of the second retreat is three-fold. First the students process their international experiences and then extend them into developmental experiences. Through ‘Diversity Roundtables Internationalized’ and a ‘Personal Culturally-Critical Incident,’ students have the opportunity to reflect on how their international experiences (re)shape) their values. Using the Global Perspectives Inventory (GPI) categories as a springboard, they initiate the process of critical reflection and develop a deeper understanding of how successful interaction with members of diverse groups enhance leadership abilities and team effectiveness. Second, particular emphasis is placed on the intersection of gender and leadership. Students connect attributes of womanhood to leadership traits. They have the opportunity to meet women at different stages of their lives who are balancing different roles. Within this context, the VIH awardees plan for their personal, ongoing leadership development journeys. Finally, the women are guided to embrace and develop a personal ethic of social responsibilities in diverse communities that will find its expression in the Community Engagement Experience (CEE). The awardees begin to brainstorm projects for their CEEs. The CEE focuses on the concept of ‘Think Globally; Act Locally’ and constitutes an initiative derived from inspiration experienced by the awardees while abroad. The women identify a need in their community and work together in a team to implement a new project.