On behalf of a team of dedicated professional and student staff, welcome to the 2026 SDSU Leadership Summit!

The SDSU Leadership Summit Conference theme, "Voices of Change: Leadership Sounds Like This” amplifies the diverse ways leadership emerges, resonates, and inspires within our community. This theme celebrates the power of individual and collective voices to influence meaningful change. By encouraging students to lead with clarity, courage, and compassion, we highlight how leadership is not defined by a single style or sound, but by the authenticity and impact behind it. Together, we explore how our voices can spark transformation, foster inclusion, and shape a future led by those bold enough to speak, listen, and act.

Join us at the 17th annual San Diego State University (SDSU) Leadership Summit conference to learn tangible strategies to become a better leader. You can read more about the conference here: Leadership Summit Conference.

We have a dynamic program planned for the day which will include insight from university leaders, performance arts, skill-building workshops, networking opportunities with peers and alumni, and words of wisdom from our keynote speakers. Stay tuned for more information on our keynote and featured speakers! Each will share important insights they learned throughout their leadership journey.

Enjoy what we hope will be a transformative experience.

Dr. Randy Timm
Associate Vice President
Student Affairs and Campus Diversity & Dean of Students

Chelsea Lombrozo
Assistant Director
Glazer Center for Leadership & Service

Stay tuned for the 2026 speaker lineup! You can learn more about last year's speakers here: 

Keynote Speaker: Zachary Willmore

I’m Zachary, a Junior at SDSU majoring in marketing with plans to add a minor in LGBTQ+ studies. I’m actively involved with Look Magazine on campus and work in social media, where I’ve gained recognition for my advocacy work, including de-stigmatizing HIV. I’ve had the opportunity to speak at events like the International AIDS Conference in Munich and the No Time to Wait leadership event in Toronto. I've also been featured in publications like NBC, People, and Parents Magazine. My goal is to inspire others to embrace authenticity and resilience, and in the future, I hope to pursue public speaking, social media marketing, and eventually launch my own men’s lingerie brand. Join us at the Leadership Summit conference to hear me discuss how to show up as an authentic leader.

Keynote Speaker: Ambra Costanza

I’m Ambra, a Junior majoring in communications with a minor in leadership studies. I began my leadership journey in high school and have continued to grow through my involvement in organizations like The College Panhellenic Association and the Residence Hall Association. I founded the Positivity Club on campus, where we spread kindness and foster positive connections. After graduation, I plan to pursue an MBA and continue developing as a leader to make a lasting impact in both my professional and personal life. I hope to see you at the Leadership Summit, where I'll discuss how to incorporate positivity into your everyday leadership.

Keynote Speaker: Cesar Lopez

I’m Cesar, a graduate student pursuing my MBA. I'm a passionate advocate dedicated to creating opportunities for underserved communities and advancing equity in education. As a member of Project Rebound and Launch Into Leadership, I’ve worked to break down barriers for justice-impacted students. I believe in the power of resilience and grit, using my personal experiences to inspire others to overcome challenges and lead with purpose. Come hear my keynote speech, where I'll share my personal mission: to empower others through leadership and to foster meaningful change for a more equitable future.

Questions?

Contact [email protected]

March 7, 2026

9-9:30 a.m. CHECK IN
9:30-9:50 a.m. WELCOME
10-11:00 a.m. BREAKOUT SESSION
11:15-11:45 a.m. KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
12-1:00 p.m. LUNCH
1:15-1:45 p.m. DEEPER DIVE SESSION
2-2:45 p.m. ALUMNI PANEL
2:45 p.m. CLOSING

Breakout Session – 10:00am-11:00am

The Future of Leadership: Followership, Hope, and Humanity

Location TBA

• Dr. Lisa Gates, Ph.D., Director, Leadership Studies Major and Minor, San Diego State University

In this session, Dr. Lisa Gates reflects on her career as an educator, administrator, and leadership consultant, framing the current realities of leadership and followership as well as the shifts occurring today. Participants learn how followership can be a force for public good by strengthening connection, supporting sense-making, fostering well-being, and helping individuals find and sustain hope in a divided and uncertain world.

Leading through a Multicultural Lens

Location TBA

• Dr. Dejon Davis, Director, Center for Intercultural Relations, San Diego State University
• Dr. Edgar Hodge, Assistant Vice-President Student Affairs & Campus Diversity and IT Division Liaison, San Diego State University

In this session, participants will examine how cultural identity informs leadership philosophies and practices within diverse communities. Through an integrated approach combining video narratives and applied discussion, participants will analyze real-world scenarios, critically reflect on their leadership frameworks, and develop equity-minded strategies for inclusive and culturally responsive leadership in practice.

Constructing Your Personal Brand: From Student Leader to Career Standout

Location TBA

• Ausleen Acosta, Social Media Strategist, San Diego State University

This session demonstrates how student leadership experiences can be transformed into a compelling personal brand that supports future career success. It explores storytelling, self-awareness, and digital presence across résumés, interviews, and LinkedIn, guiding participants in communicating their value with confidence and authenticity, transforming campus involvement into professional impact.

Leading Change without Losing Yourself

Location TBA

• Annika Daphne Bilog, Nursing Professional Development Practitioner, Providence St. Joseph Hospital of Orange

This session invites leaders to reflect on how their well-being, resilience, and leadership values shape their capacity to create lasting impact. Participants will explore practical strategies for caring for themselves while navigating the demands and pressures of institutional change. They will learn approaches for recovering from setbacks with resilience and for reconnecting to what guides their leadership during challenging moments. By grounding their actions in their leadership values, leaders will leave with tools to lead authentically and sustainably, preserving their energy and purpose over time.

The Changing Nature of Leadership: Holding onto Your ‘Why’ in a Shifting World

Location TBA

• Dr. Renzo Lara, Director, Latinx Resource Center, San Diego State University

Leadership evolves like the seasons. This session invites participants to reflect on their “why”. The values and inner motivation that guide their leadership. Through dialogue and activities, they’ll explore how to stay rooted during change, realign with purpose, and develop practices for personal and professional growth.

Leveling Up Your Leadership: Going from Player to Professional

Location TBA

• Zach McDaniel, M.S., Program Lead, E-Sports Engagement Center, San Diego State University

What if a gaming hobby wasn’t just fun, but a future? This session explores how gamers can translate esports and gaming passions into professional pathways through activities, case studies, and gamified engagement. Participants will identify transferable skills, examine diverse career opportunities, and design personal action plans to unlock their next real-world achievements.

Leading with care: A trauma-informed approach

Location TBA

• Madison Goodmiller, Volunteer & Training Manager, Center for Community Solutions

In this session, leaders will explore how trauma can affect people in many different ways and learn practical strategies for creating supportive, trauma-informed spaces, communication, and policies. Because experiences like sexual violence and other forms of harm affect people across all communities, it’s important for leaders to understand how trauma can shape someone’s physical and emotional well-being. A trauma-informed leader is someone who responds with care, awareness, and intention by helping to create environments where people feel safe, respected, and empowered.

Deeper Dive Session – 1:15pm-1:45pm

Learn about the Glazer Center for Leadership & Service

Location TBA, (SDSU- specific content)

Join us for an informational session about the Glazer Center for Leadership & Service at SDSU! This session will provide an overview of key leadership and service programs, offer guidance on how to get involved, and help you kickstart your leadership and service journey at SDSU. Whether you're looking to enhance your leadership skills or make an impact through service, this session will equip you with the resources and opportunities to get started.

Tuning into Leadership and Wellness: Intro to Managing All Melodies of Life

Location TBA

High-impact leadership is often equated with “doing it all”, but true influence is built on sustainability. In this interactive workshop, we move beyond the buzzwords of self-care to look at leadership through a strategic lens. Using a specialized Leadership Capacity Map (a take-home worksheet), we will explain and apply the four pillars of a sustainable leader by sharing how to identify which "sounds" to amplify and which to mute to maintain yourself holistically.

Glazer Gives Back service project

Location TBA

Assemble hygiene and craft kits, which will be donated to local nonprofits in San Diego, spreading care and support to those in need.

Elevator Pitch

Location TBA

Join us for an experiential exercise on how to craft your own professional elevator pitch

Speed Friending with the Student Advisory Board 

Location TBA

Join this interactive networking session and build your professional connections!

Your Leadership Is Your Superpower: How To Use It In The Job Search

Location TBA

Learn how to translate your leadership experiences into compelling resume bullets, memorable interview examples, and a confident professional narrative. Whether you lead a club, a class project, a team, or a community effort, you'll walk away knowing how to showcase your strengths in ways that resonate with employers and set you apart in the hiring process.  

Avenues for Advocacy with Youth Will

Location TBA

 Come learn how to define advocacy through navigating local government and enacting social change. This session is in collaboration with Youth Will, ​ a community-based organization dedicated to empowering youth of San Diego through activism, governmental advocacy, and leadership.

“The Leadership Summit, held at San Diego State University, was an amazing way for both emerging and experienced leaders to re-evaluate their standpoints on leadership ethics and the importance of diversity. The summit was presented by some of the most influential leaders of our campus and their real world experience proved to be an extreme asset to everyone that attended. Leading a student based organization on a college campus can be an extremely difficult task, but the summit provided it's attendees with tools and necessities to guide leaders into success. This annual event will be sure to cultivate young leaders into building a stronger and more organized community on our college campus."
-Christine, Business Management Major

"After attending this event my knowledge of myself and my leadership skills have grown. The workshops and presentations were beneficial in identifying ways to improve leadership abilities as well as bring awareness to diversity issues on and off campus.”
-Joshua, Mechanical Engineering Major

“The workshops I was able to attend were both enlightening and intriguing. Not only did I learn about leadership, but I was pleasantly surprised by the openness to diversity and what it means to embrace diversity. The keynote address really brought us all together and made us reflect on our own lives. I highly recommend this summit to anyone wanting to enrich their leadership and diversity experience!”
-Jasmin, Theatre Arts Major with a focus in Management

"As a student presenter, I was able to illustrate the collective struggle people of color, and more specifically cultural organizations, face on majority campuses. As an observer, I was able to develop myself as a leader within the diverse spaces I am involved in and critically reflect on my role as a student. Overall, this summit provided a space for everyone in attendance to further understand how diversity and leadership are interconnected and is an essential aspect within our society.”
-Washington, Criminal Justice Major with a minor in Chicana/o Studies

• Adapting to Change
• Alumni/Employer Panels
• Appreciation for Difference in Perspectives
• Being Inclusive
• Building Trust
• Communication Respectfully & Professionally
• Conflict Resolution
• Creating a Vision
• Decision Making
• Delegation
• Development Strategies
• Emotional Intelligence
• Entitlement
• Etiquette
• Event Planning
• Fostering Creativity
• Grit and Resilence
• Leading with Creativity
• Learning from Failure
• Making Transitions between Roles
• Networking
• Parliamentary Procedure
• Personal Branding
• Personality Assessments
• Planning for the Future
• Public Speaking
• Searching for Balance
• Social Media Responsibility & Consequences
• Team Work
• Time Management
• Values Clarification