““Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember; involve me and I learn.””
Personal & Professional Development Programs
I create unique content and curriculum for college students on positive leadership, relationships and well-being such as:
Foundations for Flourishing – Leadership Development Program
Why Haven’t YOU Caught Happiness Yet? – From Chasing to Choosing Happiness
The MASKS We Wear – Barriers to Personal Connection & Intimate Relationships
Beginning with The End in Mind – Writing a Personal Mission Statement
Unleashing Your Inner Superhero – Identifying & Appreciating Your Strengths
From Falling in Love to Flying in Love – How to Cultivate LOVE for a Lifetime
Philosophy
Inviting students to feel known, be vulnerable and leave inspired are central to my programming philosophy. There is an old saying that "people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." Great leaders from Teddy Roosevelt to John C. Maxwell have shared this belief. With this in mind, I strive to create a safe environment that encourages sharing and reflection. I do this by self-disclosing relatable personal stories of struggle and success to cultivate trust and openness, and by facilitating activities and discussion intended to foster self-awareness and engagement. By discussing meaningful topics with varied opportunities to share their values, strengths, accomplishments, aspirations, and even sometimes their wounds, students are invited to feel known and be vulnerable with one another. Being known and validated by others is a powerful experience, but so is making a commitment to accept who you are and what is most important to you. At the end of the day, I believe what Maya Angelou said is true; "people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Concluding a program, I want people to leave inspired to be their authentic selves knowing that they are not on that journey alone.
““Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.””
Below you will find snippets from the 2-page Take-Away handouts created for a few of the above 90-minute interactive programs.
Program Purchase & Delivery Options
I believe in the power of collaboration and commit to co-creating and co-facilitating programs whenever possible. My dear friend and colleague, Ben Braddock, and I co-developed the four programs previewed above. If you are interested in learning more about any of our established programs or would like us to develop a program to fit your needs, do not hesitate to reach out. In addition to the option of us developing curriculum and/or facilitating a program for your students, our program curriculum and corresponding materials are available for purchase as well. Whether you request that we facilitate a program or want to purchase a complete program, all programs include a branded and thematic PowerPoint Presentation, Self-Assessment/Reflection Worksheet, 2-Page Take-Away Handout, Facilitator Guide, AND 2-week, 1-week, 48-hour and 24-hour invite e-mails to market and promote the event on your campus.
““I was fortunate to work with David when he graciously shared his work on the Foundations for Flourishing Leadership Development Program curriculum with me, which enabled me to offer it to regional campus students. He went above and beyond in providing training materials and making himself available for ongoing consultation as needed. David is very engaging and enthusiastic and brings positive energy to all things. He is also extremely organized and thorough and often prepares contingency plans, which was very helpful to me! I would welcome an opportunity to collaborate with him again.””
““During his time working at Ohio University, David worked tirelessly to improve the lives of students, peers, and colleagues. His work as the co-founder of and a mentor and facilitator within the Vanguard OHIO men and masculinity program was exceptional in terms of both commitment and genuineness. Masculinity programming requires immense passion and a skill for personal connection, and David displayed these qualities time after time. While all of my interactions working with David highlighted the personal interest and attentiveness that he brings to his work, his time as a mentor within Vanguard truly demonstrated the synthesis of David’s professional and academic focus on positive psychology and leadership development – bringing his skills as an educator and facilitator to the next level.””