Students become leaders through Keyes certificate program

Graduating life sciences student Bushra Habib defines leadership as “a commitment to affecting positive change in one’s surroundings and communities.”

Habib is one of 23 students to complete the Dr. Mary E. Keyes Certificate of Leadership Development this year.

To earn the certificate, students must complete six experiential leadership development modules. Participants then reflect on their development by creating a leadership portfolio and highlighting aspects of their growth to an interview panel.

Habib hopes the leadership skills she developed through the program will pay off this summer, when she will take advantage of a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada opportunity at the University of Alberta.

Fernanda Rodrigues, an exchange student from Brazil studying commerce, accelerated through the six program modules in just one year. She hopes to use the skills she learned to start a community project in her neighbourhood back home.

The Dr. Mary E. Keyes Certificate of Leadership Development was developed in 2002 in recognition of the AVP of Student Affairs, who had passed away earlier that year. With unmatched enthusiasm and dedication, Keyes’ leadership built and enhanced student life and services at McMaster. The leadership development program underwent a substantial review and re-launch in the winter of 2012.

Since then, over 400 students have registered for the program which is delivered by professionals from the Student Success Centre, Athletics & Recreation and the Office of Human Rights and Equity Services.