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Distinguished Leaders Program

Two People Meet With Wall Of Post Its Behind Them

The Sheedy Distinguished Leaders program allows students to hone real-world skills through paid work within the Sheedy Family Program. Students who are selected gain hands-on work experience while also meaningfully shaping the Sheedy Family Program. A win-win.

As a team, the Sheedy Distinguished Leaders (DLs) work closely with SFP faculty to help guide key aspects of the program. These include the monthly dinner series, professional development workshops, business treks, the annual new student recruitment process, the end-of-year formal, and the program’s media presence. See below for more thorough descriptions of the DLs’ main project areas.

The Sheedy program selects a team of approximately 8 DLs for each academic year. Although all of the DLs work together on all of the Sheedy initiatives, each DL can expect to take a leadership role in one or two project areas, depending on their interests, expertise, and availability throughout the year.

DL positions are all part-time (approximately two to five hours a week) and run throughout the academic year. Although students selected as DLs typically serve in the role for both the fall and spring semesters, students who are studying abroad one semester (or are otherwise unavailable to work for some portion of the academic year) are still eligible to apply.

Students selected as Sheedy Distinguished Leaders can expect to draw upon and enrich their skills in written and oral communication, project management, professional networking, team building, event planning, and community outreach.

Main Project Areas

Students Dialogue at a Sheedy Dinner

Sheedy Dinners

The DLs help the program’s directors execute the Sheedy Dinners series. They serve as points-of-contact when the guest speakers are on campus, and they spearhead efforts to involve Sheedy students and affiliated faculty members in the speakers’ visits. This may include arranging small-group discussions with students interested in the speakers’ topic or field, sending invites to campus faculty who may wish to attend the Sheedy Dinner, and introducing the speaker at the Dinner itself. The DLs also suggest potential speakers for future academic years.

Workshops

The DLs work to coordinate educational and professional development workshops for Sheedy students, taught by Sheedy affiliated faculty and other campus or local partners. These programs are designed to help Sheedy students gain practical skills and specialized knowledge relevant to careers in business. Workshop topics could include anything from how to complete a consulting case study to how to write a stand-out cover letter to what differentiates impact investing from traditional wealth management.

Media

The DLs head up the Sheedy Family Program’s online presence, including its social media accounts and website. They are responsible for finding and generating content to share on the Program’s LinkedIn page and Instagram and increasing the Sheedy Family Program’s engagement with University and other relevant accounts. They also write original stories for the Sheedy Family Program website, including write-ups of Sheedy events and spotlights of Sheedy student or affiliated faculty achievements.

Business trek

DLs work closely with Sheedy faculty, staff, and outside partners to plan the itinerary for the Sheedy Business Trek to Chicago each spring. This work includes contacting Sheedy alumni and other business professionals to set up site visits and coordinating with Sheedy students to prepare them for departure. 

Recruitment

Each year, starting just before the spring semester, the DLs work with the program’s directors to recruit qualified, enthusiastic applicants to the Sheedy Family Program. They brainstorm and implement student outreach efforts, visit relevant classes to pitch the Sheedy Program, and present at informational sessions for prospective students.

Community building

The DLs work closely with Sheedy faculty and staff to plan four key events during the academic year, including the Sheedy kick-off dinner each fall and the end-of-year banquet/formal each spring. They gain experience in large event planning as they lead tasks like coordinating catering, managing RSVPs, and communicating with host venues. They also think carefully about how to create an inclusive environment at Sheedy events and to encourage cross-cohort interactions. 

Apply

Applications open each April. Interested students may apply by emailing Richard Clark, Chris Hedlin, and Brett Beasley a short (max. 200 word) responses to the following questions:

(1) Why are you interested in the DLs program? What goals (personal or professional) would being a DL help you meet?

(2) Why would you be a good fit for this opportunity? What skills or traits would you bring to the team? Of the projects listed, which could you picture leading, and why?

(3) Are you available throughout the academic year? Please list any times (e.g. “fall semester abroad,” “February”) when you will not be available.

The Sheedy Distinguished Leaders are paid at a rate commensurate with other campus leadership positions. All Sheedy students are encouraged to apply. If you have a question about eligibility, please don't hesitate to ask.