Texas State hosts 19th Annual African American Leadership Conference

By Jordan Gass-Pooré
University News Service
September 8, 2011

The 19th Annual African American Leadership Conference at Texas State University-San Marcos, sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, will take place Sept. 9-10 in the LBJ Student Center.

The two-day Texas State African American Leadership Conference begins at 5 p.m. Friday with a mentoring social, where freshman students will be matched with an upperclassman student, faculty or staff mentor.

Beverly Henry Wheeler, the first Texas State African American Leadership Conference adviser, will be Saturday’s keynote speaker. Wheeler, Texas State alumna, is the Dallas/Fort Worth Regional Admission Representative for the University of Tulsa, Okla.

Terence Parker, African American Leadership Conference adviser, said a mentor helps ease new students’ transition from home to college.

More than 200 Texas State students will participate in a series of African American Leadership Conference workshops designed to develop friendships and leadership skills.

Parker, division of student affairs assistant retention management and planning director, said the African American Leadership Conference workshops give students the opportunity to meet new people. He said the conference allows students to network and learn from their peers, faculty and staff.

The African American Leadership Conference was started in 1992 by Texas State students who wanted to help African American students connect to the university.

For more information, call Multicultural Student Affairs at (512) 245-2278.