Part of our University’s mission is to prepare our students to become tomorrow’s leaders by offering them exceptional classroom, research and extracurricular experiences. The University’s Creating Excellent Organizations (CEO) Program, offered by the Division of Student Life, helps our students prepare for future leadership positions through its free educational workshops.

The workshops, held at least once a week each term, help students develop interpersonal and organizational skills needed for personal and professional growth. Drexel faculty and staff, as well as professional staff and trainers from corporations such as Accenture, Vanguard Group and Urban Engineers, lead the workshops on topics ranging from wealth-building strategies to social action and Web design tips. Students who participate in the workshops can earn CEO certificates in areas including personal leadership, women’s leadership and urban community service—important subjects for all students regardless of their career aspirations.

Once students have earned a program certificate, they can apply to participate in the exclusive and limited CEO II. This advanced training for leadership excellence program includes multiple on-campus sessions and off-campus activities, such as corporate visits and tours. CEO II is designed to enhance students’ insight into leadership principles. During the current academic year, CEO II is using best-selling author, entrepreneur and renowned motivational speaker Dr. John C. Maxwell’s Learning the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership—Corporate Edition to develop an understanding of basic laws of success that can be applied to business and private lives. Students who complete CEO II are eligible to apply for future Drexel Leadership Consultant positions.

It has been a Drexel tradition to prepare our graduates for leadership in their chosen professions. Today, thanks to programs such as CEO, Drexel is enabling our students to enhance their classroom learning by acquiring the tools and techniques they will need for future leadership roles. Please join me in thanking those members of the Drexel community who make this outstanding program possible. I encourage all Drexel students to visit the CEO Web site at www.drexel.edu/StudentLife/CEO and find out how they can benefit from the program.

C.R. "Chuck" Pennoni Interim President