The Barometer Online

Issue date: 11/6/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Jeff Wick The Center for Leadership Development at Oregon State University featured Dixon Recreation Center student manager Ben Misley in an ongoing series about student leadership.

Larry Roper, Vice Provost of Student Affairs, defines leadership as "doing something that matters."

Through a series of conversations, the Center for Leadership Development at Oregon State University hopes to investigate ways to nurture, inspire and challenge students to develop the leader within themselves, according to the center.

Roper and Assistant Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences Cary Green, PhD. will facilitate these conversations - one of which has already taken place.

The news conversation will take place at 9 a.m. on Nov. 20 in the MU's Powell Leadership Room. Staff, faculty and students are invited to attend.

Through these conversations, leaders get an opportunity to meet one another and share their stories.

One particular campus leader greets everyone with a smile - it is his goal to make sure that everyone gets at least one smile and warm greeting each day.

One of Ben Misley's favorite quotes is "every interaction is significant because no one is insignificant."

This belief resonates with Misley because it is something he lives each day and especially in his work at Dixon Recreation Center.

Misley, a senior in business from Gladstone, is one of Dixon's student managers.

Misley described his role as "doing what my boss does when he is not there. I am in charge of the building, leading the staff and managing conflicts, as well as keeping things clean and people safe. The job is great because I enjoy the people that I work with."

Misley is not one to believe that his title makes him the authority when on the job. Instead, he believes in relationship-based leadership.

"I make a difference to my co-workers by establishing a connection with them. My management style is relationship-based. You have to understand where people are at and where they are coming from. You have to take care of your people. I try to keep the work environment fun, light-hearted and respectful to everyone."

Continued...

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