UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Presidential Leadership Academy (PLA) students visited Boston, Massachusetts, during spring break for their spring semester field trip, where they met with alumni mentors and explored the city.
The Presidential Leadership Academy is a certificate program housed in Schreyer Honors College and founded by Edward and Helen Hintz in 2009. Students apply for PLA in their first year and begin the program in their second. Students take three classes, go on field trips, participate in co-curricular programming, and develop mentor relationships.
The academy's goal is to develop Penn State students into future leaders who are equipped with crucial critical thinking skills and the ability to act, lead and make decisions in a world filled with complex situations.
Each semester, students are invited to go on a fully funded field trip to a new city in the United States. These field trips help give students a broader perspective on socio-political issues and expose them to diverse leadership styles.
“It is important to take students outside of the bubble of 'Happy Valley' to give students different perspectives which can influence their career paths,” said Program Director Melissa Doberstein. This year the group ventured to Boston, Massachusetts. About seven hours away from State College, Boston is home to a concentration of Penn State alumni who are all pursuing unique career paths, as well as exciting features to explore in the city.
On the Friday preceding spring break, the troupe of 34 academy members plus Doberstein, Schreyer Honors College Dean Patrick Mather, Schreyer Honors College Director of Development Jason Godinez, and Student Engagement Specialist David de la Rosa all headed on the trek to Boston. Once they arrived, they met program benefactors and Penn State alumni Edward and Helen Hintz, who have joined PLA on every trip since its inception.
The agenda included a mix of professional development activities, personal growth opportunities and connecting as a group. Students developed their professional skills by meeting with Penn State alumni who live and work in Boston in diverse fields such as nonprofits, technology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, education, business and more. An alumni panel was featured as part of the group's activities.
“It’s always energizing to connect with students and provide helpful career advice. The [PLA panel session] provided a unique opportunity to reflect on my own professional journey and share real-world challenges in maintaining integrity, under the toughest of circumstances.” said John Croteau, a Schreyer alumni from 1991 and CEO of Pison, a startup that is pioneering the world’s first AI-powered platform to monitor neurocognitive function, with lifechanging applications to help resolve the global mental health crisis.
Additionally, a large portion of the trip involved site visits. Academy members took a tour of Harvard Law School, participated in a case-study at McKinsey Consulting with Jeff Rudnicki, a Schreyer alumni from 2001, and listened to Penn State alumni Tracey Franklin at Moderna and Matt Frazier, a Schreyer alumni from 2009, at Jones Street Investment Partners. These site visits and alumni speakers allowed the students to get advice from various career perspectives.
“I was so impressed by the PLA students who visited Boston. They were engaged and thoughtful in all of our interactions, and they were curious in a way that was both genuine and gratifying,” said Frazier, who hosted the PLA students for breakfast at Jones Street and provided the students with mentorship and advice about working in finance and real estate.
"The Boston PLA trip accelerated my professional growth by allowing me to engage and connect with leaders who are shaping the future of their industries,” said first-year PLA student Michael Miglino. "The experiences we had at McKinsey, Moderna and Jones Street gave me a window to see strong leadership in action at the highest levels. Since the trip, I've thought more critically about my long-term career goals and what kind of leader I want to be.”
PLA participants were also able to focus on personal growth and group connections during the trip. They walked the Freedom Trail where important parts of the American Revolution occurred. They also visited the site and museum of the Boston Tea Party. The students also collaborated in a city-wide scavenger hunt which challenged them to work as a team to complete each item on their checklists.
“On the trip, the PLA students made pivotal connections with PLA and Schreyer Honors College alumni as well as with each other. These connections will help them on their leadership journeys,” said Doberstein.