51³Ô¹ÏÍø Main Campus, Central King Building | Free for all registered 51³Ô¹ÏÍø students
Registration opens February 4, 2026, at 10 AM and closes March 2, 2026, at noon. Space is limited to 150 participants!
What is LEADS? What are the pillars that will be covered at this conference?
Elevate your potential at the annual Leads Conference, the premier event for leadership development at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø. Join us for a single, impactful day packed with diverse skill-building sessions. You will learn and grow through interactive presentations, engaging case studies, and valuable networking opportunities. Best of all, participants will walk away with a digital badge, a verifiable micro-credential that powerfully demonstrates their strong leadership skills to prospective employers.
This year, the conference centers on four core areas of modern leadership:
Critical Thinking: where students will analyze complex problems and formulate well-supported arguments
Career and Self-Development: where students will craft effective personal brands and refine networking strategies
Leadership Development: where students will practice effective delegation and motivate diverse teams
Civil Discourse: where students will navigate challenging conversations and engage respectfully with differing perspectives
Why should I attend? What do I walk away with?
This conference is more than just a resume booster—it’s a chance to invest in your future. Participants earn three digital badges while building in-demand, transferable skills that employers actively look for in college graduates. You’ll have the opportunity to network directly with industry professionals and expert presenters—connections that are rarely accessible outside of a conference setting.
You’ll also connect with recent alumni from our institution who are now working in leading industries, gaining real insight into career paths, graduate school, and navigating the workforce. Beyond that, you’ll collaborate and network with like-minded students from diverse majors and academic levels, creating a strong professional community rooted in shared experiences.
Walk away with practical skills, meaningful connections, and concrete experiences you can confidently talk about in your next internship or job interview.
How do I register?
Featured Speakers
2025: Michael Edmondson, Associate Provost for Continued Learning
2024: Casey Coleman, Assistant Director for Student Involvement at Montclair State University
2024: Kerolos Rophail, Executive Director at Empire Beauty School
2024: Robert Serrani, Marketing and Communication Coordinator at Montclair State University
2024: Kimberly Alfonso, Wellness Coordinator at Boys & Girl Club of Newark
2021: Dr. John E. Gray, Professor at Stockton University & co-Founder of Empowerment Matters, LLC
2020: T.J. Sullivan, Partner and Vice President of Sales for ForCollegeForLife
2019: Harlan Cohen, a New York Times Bestselling Author