HDF 190:

FIRST YEAR LEADERS INSPIRED TO EXCELLENCE LEADERSHIP PORTFOLIO

Ryan Brown SPRING 2014

[email protected]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Strengths & Values Opening Statement Section 1: Self Leadership Section 2: Leadership Theories Section 3: Inclusive Leadership Section 4: Critical Thinking Section 5: Interpersonal/Organizational Leadership

Outcome #1 Outcome #26 Outcome #80 Outcome #89 Outcome #127

Signature Strengths
Activator Ideation Learner Positivity Includer

Values in Action Strengths

OPENING STATEMENT
My name is Ryan David Brown I am a student at the University of Rhode Island. I am studying biomedical engineering with a minor in leadership. I desire to become a biomedical engineering because I want to create medical devices to improve the lives of people everywhere. I am the kind of person who likes to get involved in things so I am a part of a few organizations here on campus the ultimate frisbee team, NSBE and EMBS. My top five Gallup Strengths are activator, ideation, learner, positivity and includer. My top five VIA values are appreciation of beauty and excellence, creativity, humor, fairness and honesty. I ask that you remember success is only the start there is more to follow.

SECTION 1 SELF LEADERSHIP Outcome #1 Student will demonstrate autonomy and a minimized need for approval At the beginning of my spring semester my freshman year I was in charge of collecting money from my whole frisbee team for team dues and team jersey. At one time I think I was holding close to $1600 on my person. I had to hunt down some people that were just slacking or forgetting to bring it to practice. I filled out the forms with my captain for campus rec. The hardest part about all of this was that it was uncomfortable to carry all that money it was just such a huge responsibility. I am proud that I not only got to help my team but to have that experience because I feel that it has fortified my ethics.

SECTION 2 Leadership Theory and Models Outcome #26 Student will show knowledge of the Servant Leadership theory of leadership by Greenleaf

In HDF 190 I had to write a speech about how servant leadership pertains to me. I talked about how I have actually been using servant leadership for a long time because I enjoy to help people along their way but for them to accomplish things on their own. I want to use servant leadership not only now in college in organizations I am a part of but also when in my future career as a biomedical engineer. I have always seen engineers as people who work in groups to develop innovations in technology to advance their field. Since I will most likely be working with a team of engineers in my future career I will lead with servant leadership as to not allow my ambitions make me seem like defying of a chain of command.

SECTION 3 Inclusive Leadership / Diversity and its application to leadership Outcome #80 Student will show knowledge of effective leadership as it relates to change agency

In HDF 190 I had to work with a group of my classmates to make a presentation on how Toms shoes has acted as a social change agent in the business world. The CEO of Toms shoes Blake Mycoskie started a shoe company that gave back a pair of shoes for every pair that is bought. My group wrote about this due to how closely Toms shoes actions relate to the social change model. Toms shoes shares a common purpose between themselves and their customers that being to help people. They show commitment to those in need by not only giving those in need shoes but giving them jobs by opening factories in the area. Toms shoes uses all of the components in the social change model even those I didnt list examples of such as congruence, consciousness of self, collaboration, controversy with civility and citizenship all to encourage change within society. Blake Mycoskie has acted as a change agent to help those who cannot help themselves.

SECTION 4 Critical Thinking Outcome #89 Student will demonstrate proficiency of critical thinking The beginning of the group design project was the hardest part because my group and I were very unsure of what exactly we wanted to do. In this situation we all had to be cooperating with each other and think critically while bouncing ideas off of one another. Our idea had to solve an existing problem on campus and relate directly to the center for student leadership development. One of my group members Tia thought of the idea of a stress relief center at first it seemed farfetched. Over time we all continued to use are critical thinking skills to make the initial idea of a stress center a full-fledged project by incorporating elements of leadership in how the stress center would work and theories that it would pass on to those that visited.

SECTION 5 (Interpersonal and Organizational Concepts and Skills ) Outcome #127 Student will describe personal examples of preparing for and being interviewed

Spring semester of my freshman year I applied to be an RA here at URI. I will admit I was worried because in total there were about 340 applicants so I knew it was not going to be handed to me. In preparation for this I went to a program one of my RAs hosted on what kind of questions to expect during the first interview and what things help you to get noticed. I also asked another RA what to expect and he just told me to be myself. The first interview went well I was calm cool and collective. I contributed to the debate I recorded notes and I even made some jokes. I passed the first round no problem..