for University Student Body Officers from Across California

Student leaders from throughout California began an eight-day program on Sunday, June 12 at The Panetta Institute for Public Policy for the seventeenth annual Leadership Seminar. The objectives of the seminar are to teach young men and women about leadership principles, strategies and practices; to send them back to their campuses and communities as more effective leaders; and to encourage them to pursue lives of public service. 

Following a full seven days of seminars, on Saturday, June 18 the participants will give presentations on their personal perceptions of leadership and their plans to apply the lessons they have learned to their academic and student body objectives. Members of the media are invited to attend these presentations.

Originally developed by a distinguished group of officials and visiting scholars, including former U.S. Senator Alan Simpson, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Henry Cisneros; former U.S. Representative Barbara Kennelly; Bowling Alone author Robert Putnam of Harvard; the late John Gardner, formerly of Stanford; and former chair of the Federal Reserve, Alice Rivlin, the Education for Leadership in Public Service course reaches out to young leaders and gives them the tools they need to succeed.

Twenty-eight student body presidents and other student leaders from throughout the California State University system as well as Dominican College of California, Saint Mary’s College of California and Santa Clara University are attending.

This unique educational program features classes on topics such as:  leadership in Sacramento; in higher education; at the local, city and county levels; military leadership; historical and ethical perspectives on leadership; leadership in criminal justice; media; community and grass-roots organizing; leadership challenges in the 21st century; and a discussion and exercise on consensus building featuring former elected officials from both political parties.  There will also be special sessions on conflict resolution and public speaking.

Among the program’s nearly two dozen presentations, events and exercises are discussions led by Institute Chairman and former Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta. Secretary Panetta will speak to the students on what he considers the top ten qualities of leadership and will hear from the students on their leadership objectives.  The Institute includes a seminar on cyber security, which will focus on steps young leaders can take to protect themselves and others against cyber crime.

“In our recent national poll, 73 percent of students felt they would have a more difficult time achieving the American Dream than their parents,” explained Institute Chairman Leon E. Panetta.  “The purpose of this leadership program is to make clear to young leaders that they can make a difference in the future or our nation.  We will spend eight days showing student leaders diverse aspects of leadership from people who know how to lead.  We need to pass their lessons on to the next generation of stewards of our democracy.”

The following is a list of some of the speakers and forums:

A session on leadership in journalism and communications will feature KAZU news director, Krista Almanzan; KSBW-TV news co-anchor, Erin Clark; and The Salinas Californian government and political reporter, Amy Wu.

A panel on leadership in local government will comprise former mayor of Monterey, Dan Albert; former mayor of Santa Cruz, Hilary Bryant; and mayor of Salinas, Joe Gunter.

Leadership at the state level will be discussed in three different sessions.  Communications coordinator for Next 10, Stephanie Leonard, will lead the students in a budget exercise that highlights the difficult fiscal choices associated with passing a balanced budget.  Former chief counsel to the California Assembly Judiciary Committee, Drew Liebert will discuss challenges facing the state legislature.  The final California centered session will feature executive director for California Forward, James Mayer, who will discuss the organization’s efforts to enact government reforms in Sacramento.

Leadership in sports will feature two former NFL players who now work with youth:  former Super Bowl champion, San Francisco Forty-Niner and current dean of students at Palma School, Chris Dalman; and former player for the Philadelphia Eagles and present risk management and compliance administrator for the Boys & Girls Clubs, Ron Johnson.

Commanding crew members for littoral combat ships, CDR Michel Falzone, USS FORT WORTH (LCS-1), and CDR Mark Haney, USS MILWAUKEE (LCS-5), will share perspectives on military leadership.

California Superior Court judge for Monterey County, The Hon. Carrie McIntyre Panetta; local defense attorney, Juliet Peck; and Santa Cruz county assistant district attorney, Rafael Vazquez will discuss leadership in the criminal justice system.

Leadership in Education will be presented by vice president of the Hartnell Community College Board of Trustees, Erica Padilla-Chavez; president of the Naval Postgraduate School, Admiral Ron Route; and superintendent/president of Monterey Peninsula College, Walt Tribley.

Local community leaders participating include president of the League of United Latin American Citizens Council for North Monterey County, Diana Jimenez; Monterey County assistant district attorney, Rolando Mazariegos; former city council member and Monterey Peninsula Unified School District trustee, Helen Rucker; and Monterey County Supervisor, Simón Salinas.  They will focus on how one’s own life experiences can form leadership skills and the ability of community members to forge consensus and build partnerships that can effect change at the local, state and national levels.

A local group will address leadership in business featuring president & CEO of the Cannery Row Company, Ted Balestreri; former executive director of the Monterey County Business Council, Mary Claypool; and CEO and chairman of the board of Mann Packing, Lorri Koster.

Workshops will also be held on professional speaking skills and defusing difficult situations through effective communication.

The Leadership Seminar also features a special three-part program on consensus building.  This popular session begins with a special session with former California Assembly Members Jim Cunneen and Fred Keeley in a frank discussion on how they crossed the aisle to govern effectively during their time in office. It is followed by an academic overview of consensus building strategies.  The program wraps up with an interactive role-playing exercise that provides a challenging situation for these young leaders to resolve.

Also participating will be Co-Chair and CEO of the Panetta Institute, Sylvia Panetta, and Panetta Institute staff, Richard Kezirian, Sonia Banks, Chris Haubert and Ellen Wilson.

This seminar concludes with special presentations from each of the 28 participants during which the students share their goals for their home campuses and reflect on their own definitions of leadership.

For more information on the Leadership Seminar, please call the Panetta Institute at 831-582-4200 or visit www.panettainstitute.org.