MEDIA, Pa. — Penn State Brandywine has established a National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) chapter on campus with the help of Assistant Teaching Professor of Information Sciences and Technology Andy Landmesser and Residence Life Coordinator Jasmaine Price-Thornton, who are serving as advisers for the new chapter. The NSLS is the largest and only accredited leadership honor society in the nation, with more than 700 chapters and over 1.5 million members.

With a flexible online curriculum, the NSLS is a great opportunity for all students, including those who are balancing full course loads with families and full-time jobs. Students invited to join NSLS are current sophomores and juniors with a 2.5 GPA or above.

“Brandywine as an institution will benefit heavily from having an NSLS chapter on our campus,” Landmesser said. “It will build the school’s reputation, visibility and help with recruiting efforts.”

Landmesser mentioned the NSLS aligns with Brandywine’s mission of teaching students skills that will last a lifetime.

“Throughout the program, students learn valuable, in-demand skill sets that hiring managers specifically look for, including leadership, relationship-building, goal-setting and effective communication,” he said.

NSLS was brought to Brandywine with the support of Penn State alumnus Shawn Manderson, a Brandywine Advisory Board member and vice president of enterprise risk management at ADP. The Penn State Brandywine Leadership and Legacy Fund he established is supporting the campus NSLS chapter and other leadership opportunities. Manderson said he feels that leadership programs are beneficial to students and taking part in a National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) helped prepare him for college and career success.

“The NSLC program was one of the first cornerstones of my college preparation — contributing to my college success at Penn State,” Manderson said. “It established the initial foundation of my leadership prowess that continues to drive me today in my career, giving me the knowledge, confidence and practical skills required to lead others and team build.”

Once students accept their NSLS nomination and become a member, they must complete the Foundations of Leadership program. During the program, students will watch speaker broadcasts featuring high-profile leaders, including former former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, Bernice King, Mark Cuban, and many others.

The NSLS membership provides access to more than $400,000 in scholarships each year. Once students complete the program, they become inducted members and gain access to even more benefits, including personalized letters of recommendation, an exclusive NSLS job board, additional scholarships, and opportunities for advanced leadership education, allowing them to earn credits as they learn to lead.