Develop Your Leadership Skills.
Leadership is not defined by a title. It is the ability to understand yourself, work effectively with others, contribute to your community, and create positive changes.
The Office of Student Life & Leadership Development offers a variety of programs throughout the academic year to help NCC students strengthen their confidence, explore their leadership style, build career-ready skills, and put leadership into practice. Opportunities are open to students from all areas of study and are designed to meet students wherever they are in their leadership journey.
Leadership Pathways Certificate
The Leadership Pathways Certificate gives students the flexibility to develop their leadership skills through workshops and programs offered by our department. Students can earn the certificate by attending any four qualifying sessions during the academic year.
Programs explore topics like:
- Conflict management
- Managing stress and burn-out
- Change management
- Emotional intelligence
- Civic leadership
- and more!
To see our current certificate offerings for Fall 2026, please visit here.
Leadership Pathways is a great option for students who want to strengthen their resume, prepare for future leadership roles, and develop skills that can be applied in the classroom, workplace, and community.
Annual Spring Leadership Class
The Student Leadership Class is an immersive, cohort-based experience offered during the spring semester. The class meets once a week on Wednesdays form 3-5PM. Through interactive sessions with guest speakers, leadership assessments, group discussions, and experiential learning opportunities, students gain a deeper understanding of themselves and how they lead.
Applications for the spring leadership class are released in September and students are admitted on a rolling basis. Students must have a 2.5 GPA or higher at the time of acceptance on the course. Please note this is a non-credit seminar.
Topics covered in the course may include:
- The 5 practices of exemplary leadership
- Emotional intelligence and self-awareness
- Communication and public speaking
- Group development and team dynamics
- Conflict management and resolution
- Cultural identity and inclusive leadership
- Storytelling and inspiring a shared vision
The class also includes off-campus trips to visit with various industry leaders in the Lehigh Valley. Students learn what skills are important and relevant across all industries and gain valuable insights from people practicing leadership every day.
Some trips may include:
- Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp
- St. Luke’s
- Coca-Cola
- Northampton County Government – County Executive’s Office
- Wind Creek + more!
Thanks to the generosity of the NCC Foundation all course materials are provided at no cost. For additional information, please email Student Life & Leadership Development at studentlife@northampton.edu
Leadership Through Student Involvement
Some of the most meaningful leadership developments happen through experience. Students can practice their skills by serving as an officer in a student club, joining Student Senate, participating in NCC Votes, planning campus programs, volunteering in the community, or helping create new opportunities for their peers.
The Office of Student Life provides training to student club leaders on topics including but not limited to:
- Budget management and spending
- Effective fundraising
- Event planning and management
- Anti-Hazing and conflict management
These experiences, particular student club officers roles, allow students to strengthen their communication, collaboration, budgeting, event planning, problem-solving, and decision making skills while making a positive impact on the NCC community.
