Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows

The Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows program pairs you with campus leaders, faculty and staff to explore the dynamics of leadership and your own leadership style. Named for the Elon graduate who was the first female mayor of Raleigh, N.C., the program is built around academic coursework and Elon's highly successful leadership development program.

As a freshman, you will come to campus early for special orientation events with other Leadership Fellows. You will attend a retreat later that fall to focus on identifying leadership styles.

Throughout all four years, you will take an active role in campus organizations, community service and especially the four-phase Isabella Cannon Leadership Program. Completion of this program will distinguish you at graduation as an Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellow.

Learning to Lead
As a Leadership Fellow, you will also participate in all four phases of Elon's distinguished Isabella Cannon Leadership Program -- exercising civic responsibility, taking action and engaging others to make a positive difference for the common good.

Phase I: Emerging Leaders
Participate in campus programs and learn about your personal leadership style. Open to all freshmen who want to learn more about leadership.

Phase II: Collaboration
As a sophomore, attend a "How to Lead" retreat and participate in a leadership laboratory experience with a professor or administrator.

Phase III: Change
As a junior, plan and coordinate group sessions for the Emerging Leaders Program, complete a personal and organizational change project, receive training in facilitation and attend a leadership conference. The focus is on being a leader who understands and manages change effectively.

Phase IV: Common Good
As a senior, make a positive impact for the common good by coordinating the "How to Lead" retreat, completing a community project, attending capstone discussions and presenting your leadership legacy paper.

Who should apply?
Students who are outstanding leaders in their high schools and/or communities, have held one or more leadership positions in organizations, and have a GPA of 3.5 or better and SATs of 1790 (ACT 26) or more are encouraged to apply.

Twenty-five incoming freshmen are selected annually based on leadership experience and potential, academic performance, essays and interviews.