- March, 5, 2026
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“Making change is hard, but it’s really necessary,” said President Jay Gonzalez during his opening speech at the 2026 Curry College Leadership Conference. “We need it. It’s not an option to not change,” he said, addressing student leaders from across campus.
Centered on the theme of making change, the fourth annual Leadership Conference brought Curry student leaders together for a day of dialogue, skill-building, and reflection. Sessions organized and led by Curry College faculty and staff included, “Avoiding Burnout While Still Being Involved,” “Email, Etiquette, and Professional Communication,” “Student Leader to Professional,” and “Your Digital Footprint Matters,” and more.
The event started with a facilitated keynote session by Natalie Gillard, founder and CEO of “FACTUALITY,” a facilitated dialogue, crash course, and interactive experience that simulates structural inequality in the United States. Curry students participated in the game-based dialogue on systemic inequality and left with a better understanding of how various disparities, starting conditions, and systemic policies affect everyday life for differing identities. Devin Barr ’27, a Resident Assistant, learned about disparities from a perspective he hadn’t considered before. “I found the keynote speaker very engaging, and it was a good learning experience,” he said. “It opened my eyes to differing perspectives.”
At lunch, student leaders participated in an interactive session focused on navigating complex interpersonal scenarios led by Pat Kelley, Director of Student Engagement, and Marshall Lancey, Assistant Vice President of Student Experience. Marvin Ssebagala ’26, a Lead Resident Assistant, particularly enjoyed this session, saying, “I found it very fun, and it was good to rethink experiences from different perspectives,” he said.
Lancey proudly saw the growth in student leaders first-hand throughout the conference. “I am so impressed with the honesty and willingness for our students to engage in what can be difficult conversations,” he said. This sentiment was echoed by Kelley, who noted, “The students came in with an attitude of learning about leadership.”
“I saw student leaders interacting with sessions, giving their genuine thoughts and not just typical answers,” said Kevin Blackmur, Director of the Student Center and Fitness & Recreation, who ran the “Leading Without a Title” and “Conflict is not a Failure” sessions.
The annual event highlighted what leadership looks like at Curry: thoughtful dialogue, openness to different perspectives, and a commitment to growth. Echoing President Gonzalez’s reminder that “change is not optional,” student leaders leaned into challenging conversations and left better prepared to shape a campus culture rooted in respect, accountability, and action.
2026 Curry College Leadership Conference
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