2026 Monarchs Leadership Conference

Monarchs LEADership Conference welcome and remarks from Vice President of Student and Campus Life, Dr. Brandi Hephner LaBanc

Are you ready to build a LinkedIn profile that gets you noticed and connected? In this fast-paced tutorial, we'll break down key elements of your personal brand on LinkedIn! We'll show you how to create a custom URL for your profile, share helpful resources to improve your background template, and then provide best practices for your tagline, About Me, and other key elements tied to your LinkedIn Profile. You'll also receive insider tips and learn from your peers on how they developed their profile, plus see examples of how you can create engagement with your profile before you graduate. Whether you are just getting started or need a fresh perspective, this session will help you level up your LinkedIn Profile!


Facilitators
Michelle Carpenter serves as a Master Lecturer of Marketing in the Strome College of Business. Her core classes are in marketing, social media, and public relations, and she enjoys mentoring students through special projects and experiential learning opportunities. Michelle is passionate about building personal brands online! She serves as the Lead Chapter Advisor of the American Marketing Association (AMA) Strome Marketers at ODU and is the Chief Departmental Advisor.

Nia Newton is a senior marketing major and minor in Communications in Strome College. Nia has served in several marketing and social media internship roles on and off campus, including ODU Sports and 808Unapologetic. Nia serves as the Vice President of the AMA Strome Marketers and has led the club's Marketing & Sales Week events during the past two years.

Amie Burdette is a senior digital marketing major in Strome College. Amie has more than four years of experience serving in a number of roles for Southside BBQ & Catering. She also serves as Junior Marketing Coordinator in her internship role for the Van Syckle Group and is a sports marketing intern for ODU Sports. In addition, Amie has served as the President of the AMA Strome Marketers for the past two years!

In this session, students will explore how a clear sense of duty (to oneself, one's community, and one's nation) becomes a powerful engine for leadership and career development. Drawing from the lived experience of a U.S. Army Cyber Warfare Officer, the session examines how disciplined growth, purposeful credentialing, and intentional communication shape a leader's professional trajectory. Attendees will walk through decision-making frameworks used in military operations and learn how these principles apply to navigating college, early career challenges, and personal leadership. Emphasis will be placed on developing a professional identity grounded in responsibility, character, and service. Students will walk away with a deeper understanding of how to communicate confidently, lead authentically, and chart a career path shaped by values rather than circumstance. At its core, this session presents a simple but challenging proposition: "I am a citizen of a proud country, and I have an obligation to become as credentialed, educated, and accomplished as possible in order to protect and promote my family, community, and nation."

Facilitators
Mateo Portelli is a Cyber Warfare Officer in the Virginia Army National Guard's 91st Cyber Brigade and an IT Operations Analyst specializing in infrastructure and security at a nonprofit that trains international leaders in political technology. He is pursuing an M.S. in Cybersecurity at Old Dominion University and previously served as an enlisted IT Specialist in the Nevada Army National Guard. His professional focus is the intersection of national defense, cyber leadership, and the disciplined development of future professionals. Mateo's work emphasizes the duty of young Americans to cultivate excellence (academically, professionally, and morally) in service to their families, communities, and country.

In our digital world, it is important to use the tools given to us to make our world accessible to each and every student. We will break down what ableism is, how to avoid it, and talk about the accessibility features already set up in Zoom to help make events accessible. We will also talk about how to make marketing tools such as flyers and social media accessible.

Facilitators
Kcatt Christian - cchri001@odu.edu - Master's student in higher educational leadership who has interests in physical and monetary accessibility, former teacher, and graduate assistant in the Office of Educational Accessibility.
Emily Harmon - CDLS Faculty

Lunch and Networking for the Monarchs LEADership Conference.

Menu:
(VG) Cilantro Lime White Rice

Lemonade
Iced Water

Citrus Tex-Mex Salad: Oranges, tomatoes, jicama, romaine and cilantro topped with tortilla straws served with salsa ranch
Grilled Flatbread
Cumin Black Beans
Chipotle Orange Roasted Chicken
Carne Asada con Papas Ranchero
Chili Relleno
Sopapillas

Women entering the professional world often face subtle barriers that can limit leadership growth, confidence, career mobility, and workplace belonging. This session explores how collaboration, mentorship, and inclusive practices can support women student leaders as they transition from campus leadership roles into workplace environments.
Drawing from research-based insights and practical experience, this presentation will highlight strategies for building supportive networks, identifying mentors and allies, translating campus leadership experiences into career-ready competencies, and navigating workplace dynamics such as negotiation, bias, and identity confidence. Participants will engage in short reflective activities and peer discussion to practice networking language, professional communication, and inclusive leadership approaches.
Current literature shows that although women are increasingly active in leadership roles during their academic journey, advancement into professional leadership positions is often hindered by structural and cultural barriers including gender norms, limited access to mentorship, and workplace expectations (UNESCO IESALC, 2021; Kiamba, 2008; Martin, 2011; Morley, 2013). This session responds by equipping emerging women leaders with applicable tools, collaborative approaches, and strategies for strengthening leadership identities beyond campus.
This session is guided by two practice-focused questions:
What barriers do women leaders commonly encounter during the transition from campus environments into professional settings?
What mentorship practices, collaborative strategies, and inclusive leadership skills can support women’s successful career progression?
Participants will leave with practical frameworks, reflection tools, and confidence-building strategies that support career readiness and leadership development.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Identify common workplace barriers women may face when transitioning into professional roles.
Explain and practice methods for building inclusive, collaborative support networks.
Apply mentorship-seeking strategies to strengthen professional growth.
Translate campus-based leadership experience into career-relevant competencies.
Demonstrate inclusive leadership behaviors through activities focused on communication, collaboration, and confidence-building.

Bio:
Ozioko Onyinye Mary is a PhD student at Old Dominion University whose work explores women’s leadership development, equity, and student career readiness. She previously served as a lecturer at ESUTH Enugu for seven years, supporting student learning and leadership engagement, and is committed to helping emerging women leaders transition confidently into professional spaces.
Dr. Mathies Charles is an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership & Workforce Development at Old Dominion University. His work focuses on student learning, leadership development, international education, educational policy, and the experiences of international students. He supports applied research and helps prepare emerging leaders in higher education.

"Leading Out Loud" is the practice of communicating your values, experiences, and purpose openly so that others understand who you are and how you lead. It uses storytelling and authentic communication to build trust, inspire action, and create meaningful connections." Attendees will learn to:
Understand authenticity as a leadership strength
Identify key moments that shape who they are
Craft and share their personal leadership story
Practice "leading out loud" with confidence
Build connection and community through storytelling
Clarify their values and leadership voice

Facilitators
Drew Ferebee is an energetic higher education professional with a deep passion for fostering student success and development. Drew thrives on creating impactful experiences that empower students to achieve their goals. A native of Norfolk, Virginia, Drew values authenticity and is committed to inspiring others to embrace and express their truest selves. Outside of work, Drew enjoys being outdoors, studying theology, listening to music, and collecting Black children's books.
Celeste Kelly is a student at Old Dominion University pursuing a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Broadcast Journalism and Cinema & TV Production. She is eager to grow in her field and is committed to doing what it takes to become a remarkable journalist and future news reporter. Celeste currently serves as the On-Air Director for WODU Studios, Old Dominion University's No. 1 college radio station. She is passionate about reporting, marketing, and videography, and continually seeks opportunities to build her skills and tell meaningful stories.

This session explores how students can leverage entrepreneurship, effective communication, networking, and artificial intelligence to create real-world opportunities while still in school. Through real examples, personal experiences, and collaborative storytelling, the presentation highlights how student-led innovation can grow into profitable ventures and community impact.

Facilitators
Lajuane Lindo Jr -, I am a senior studying business management and entrepreneurship as an undergrad. I currently have two business; Clothing brand and pressure washing business that has allowed me to understand the importance of leadership, growth, discipline , and etc.
Emily Harmon

This presentation will go over leadership in diverse spaces with a focus on disability- and what inclusion looks like for these communities. The presentation will allow leaders to understand how to cultivate a welcoming and accessible space for any person to thrive in.

Facilitators
Adam Mandell - A Junior level Psychology student at ODU who has founded the first and only disability and neurodivergent targeted initiative for students. Focused on inclusion and acceptance, he has transformed ODU in meeting with various offices on campus to ensure the best policies and procedures to make event and living spaces available to all students, disability or not.
Kat Creveling - A PhD candidate at ODU in the Adaptive Physical Education Department, Kat focuses her research on inclusion and feelings of belonging for disabled people in PE and general spaces. With years of experience working with other disabled people, Kat aims to create a more welcoming space for any person who needs an adaption to physical education or leisure practices.

Students often underestimate how much leadership experience they already have! Whether through class projects, internships, campus jobs, or community work, they've been navigating collaboration, communication, decision-making, and problem solving long before stepping into formal leadership roles. This session helps students uncover those experiences and translate them into a polished leadership statement they can use with employers, graduate programs, and professional networks. Participants will break down real moments from their academic and applied learning journeys and identify the career readiness competencies embedded in those experiences. The session will guide them in reshaping those insights into a clear, employer-facing leadership statement that aligns with NACE competencies such as Professional Communication, Teamwork, Communication, and Career & Self-Development. Students will leave with language they can immediately plug into interviews, cover letters, ePortfolios, and LinkedIn profiles.


Facilitators
Alison Lietzenmayer, she/her, Department of Communication & Theatre Arts, Director of Senior Experience & Internships, Director of Faculty Development, Monarch Humanities Internship Academy Alison Lietzenmayer serves as a Master Lecturer and was awarded the title of University Distinguished Teacher at Old Dominion University in 2019. She is a dedicated Communication instructor currently focused on high-impact practices and work-based learning preparation. Alison has partnered with leading scholars to support research in family communication, work-life communication, and digital ePortfolio development. Her work appears in publications such as Journal of Family Communication, AEPR, ETC: A Review of General Semantic, and Teaching Professor.

Mental health is important. For years, many individuals disregarded their mental and emotional wellbeing in order to exude the mental toughness to "do what needed to be done." While that was not healthy, as evidenced by the massive push for mental health awareness, the culture has now shifted to the other side, where individuals are lacking that mental fortitude to push through the uncomfortable to set healthy boundaries, practice self-care, and achieve their goals. This session aims to provide students with a holistic view of practicing mental health awareness while in pursuit of their desired future.

Facilitators
Katherine Sasu-Twumasi - Katherine E. ST is an educator, author, and entrepreneur. As a Ghanaian-born American, her multicultural upbringing has contributed to the unique vantage point from which she views life. Katherine has earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Texas Tech University and a Master of Public Administration from Old Dominion University. She currently serves as the Office Manager and Executive Assistant of ODU's Career Center, as well as the Chief of Staff at Living Destiny Church, Norfolk. Additionally, Katherine is a licensed K-12 teacher and the author of Rivers in the Desert: Glimmers of Hope in Impossible Times. Katherine's heart for teens and young adults to discover identity and purpose continues to fuel her work in her various spheres of influence.

Ti'Mani Hargrave - Ti'Mani Hargrave is a sophomore at Old Dominion University majoring in Human Services with a minor in Psychology. Since starting college, she has joined organizations such as the Student Activity Council, Good Girl Movement, and the Perry Honors College. From a young age, Ti'Mani has been passionate about helping individuals who struggle with mental health, which fuels her dream of becoming a Child and Family Therapist. She has taken many steps toward this goal, including obtaining an internship with ForKids, working as a Summer Camp Counselor at the YMCA, and serving at the Center for Career and Leadership Development at ODU. Ti'Mani strives to continue working hard, staying resilient, and advocating for individuals who experience mental health challenges.

The Stone Ethical Leadership Challenge (SELC) ensures that the participants leave the program understanding the importance of the ODK Society’s work on campus and in the community. This is leadership program embodies the following values:

Collaboration – to work together to achieve a defined and common purpose
Inclusivity – to actively seek, embrace, and advance a diverse group of individuals
Integrity – to align one’s values and beliefs with behaviors and speech
Scholarship – to strive for excellence in academics and pursue lifelong learning
Service – to answer the call for action from one’s community or country

The SELC is a workshop comprised of presentations and discussions in a facilitated environment. Participants will review, discuss, and explore ethical dilemmas drawn from the real-life experiences of students, faculty, and administrators at colleges and universities. Each scenario provides the chance to explore a different kind of ethical dilemma, and each asks the participants to decide what they would do in the situation.

The program draws for research on Consequentialist and Non-consequentialist ethical theory as well as probing the differences between ethical and moral behavior.

Facilitator: Dr. Timothy Reed, Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), Vice President for Membership and Operations

Timothy (Tim) A. Reed serves as the vice president for membership and operations. His expertise includes leadership development, professional performance training, curriculum development, instruction, major event planning, and facilities management. He has presented extensively on leadership, organizational development, program planning, professional standards, and facility management.

With more than 30 years of experience, Tim has served in widely different university settings and multiple leadership roles throughout his career. As director of university student commons and activities and subsequently, as the assistant dean of student affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University, Tim led the curriculum and programmatic development of VCU’s third Living Learning Program (VCU-LEAD). He co-founded the VCU Emerging Leaders Program, now in its 15th year. Tim led efforts in professional development, SACS accreditation, assessment, and communications.

He received a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy from Virginia Tech, a Master of Arts in education from The Ohio State University, and a Bachelor of Science in liberal studies/interpersonal communication from the University of Evansville. He is also a member of Phi Kappa Phi and the American Society of Association Executives.