Gamecocks LEAD: Student Organization Conference

Saturday, March 21^st, 2026

The annual Gamecocks LEAD Student Organization Conference is hosted by the Leadership and Service Center in the Russell House University Union. This is a one-day experience created for student leaders and members of Registered Student Organizations and Associated Student Organizations at USC to provide student leaders, new and experienced alike, with the tools and knowledge to successfully lead their organizations and utilize the available resources provided on campus.

Registration opens Spring 2026

The Gamecocks LEAD conference will be held on Saturday, March 21^st, 9:00A-2:00P. The link to register will be sent out to all student organization members and will be available here in Spring 2026. We encourage every organization to send at least one member to the conference. A coffee bar and lunch will be provided.

Sessions will be facilitated by USC professional staff, campus partners, student organizations, and student leaders.

Learn, Engage, and Discover

Leadership is a continuous journey of growth; from understanding yourself, to empowering others, to creating meaningful impact in your community. This year’s conference invites you to explore leadership through three interconnected themes that reflect this journey: Learn, Engage, and Discover. Each theme offers opportunities to develop new insights, strengthen your leadership skills, and reimagine how you and your organization can make a difference at USC.

Learn: Leading the Self

These sessions will invite you to explore who you are as a leader. Through reflection and skill-building, you’ll deepen your understanding of your values, strengths, and personal leadership abilities. Learn how your involvement in student organizations shapes your leadership identity and discover ways to apply these insights in all areas of your life.

Engage: Leading with Others

Leadership doesn’t happen alone. These sessions will focus on how to effectively engage, motivate, and support your peers. Explore communication strategies, team-building practices, and approaches to group-leadership that strengthen your organization and help your group thrive together.

Discover: Leading for Impact

Great leaders look beyond their immediate circles. These sessions will encourage you to explore how your organization can connect, collaborate, and contribute to the broader USC community. Discover partnerships, campus resources, and creative strategies that amplify your organization’s impact and help create positive change across campus.

Call for Proposals

Proposal submissions will open for the 2026 conference soon!

Interested in presenting at Gamecocks LEAD? Students and professional staff are encouraged to submit a proposal to present either individually or through/with an organization that aligns with the themes above. As members and leaders within organizations, YOU are the experts and have great knowledge, experiences, and best practices to share with other student leaders and groups. Remember, you do not have to have your presentation figured out just yet - once you are selected to be a presenter you can then solidify your presentation. Some topics that you may present on include:

general personal or professional development
leadership development
student organization leadership
informationals and/or best practices
general interest or focus groups

As a student, you are able to select either a 20-minute or 40-minute presentation. If you have any questions about presenting, or would like to meet with a professional staff member in the LSC to help with your presentation topic, please contact Joshua Cauble.

If you have any questions about the conference or registration, please contact Jamie Howelle.

Additional Information:

There is no cost to register for this program.

Check-In	9:00A - 9:30A
Welcome	9:30A - 10:00A
Keynote Speaker	10:00A - 10:40A
Session I - Leading with Strengths	10:45A - 11:15A
Session II - Partner Presentations	11:30A - 12:10P
Lunch	12:15P - 1:15P
Reflection / Closing Session	1:15P - 2:00P

To view the 2024 digital conference program, click HERE.

The Gamecocks LEAD Conference will provide both new and experienced leaders within organizations with helpful information, strategies, and best practices to take your organizations and leadership skills to the next level. This conference was designed specifically for student organizations. A few more specific benefits:

Learn about key policies and campus resources;
Personal leadership development sessions will be hosted by USC professional staff and campus partners;
Opportunity to connect and collaborate with other organizations and USC campus partners;
Develop skills and knowledge to better your student organization.

The Gamecocks LEAD Conference will be held on-campus in the Russell House University Union.

Participants will be provided with a coffee bar, light snacks, and a buffet style lunch. When you register, please include any dietary restrictions.

2024 Guest Keynote Speaker

Lieutenant Colonel Lindsay Dudley Headshot

The Army ROTC Gamecock Battalion, which has trained cadets at the University of South Carolina for nearly 50 years, makes history as USC welcomed its first female ROTC commander, Lieutenant Colonel Lindsay Dudley, in August of this year.

Dudley has held a variety of roles over the past 16 years of her military career, including her work in human resources command at Fort Knox and her most recent role as a manpower and personnel director for Joint Task Force North at Fort Bliss. She has been deployed several times, supporting Operation Inherent Resolve in Qatar and Operation Spartan Shield in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Dudley holds a Master of Human Resources from Webster University, a master’s in military operational arts and sciences from the U.S. Air Force’s Air University and a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh.

Lieutenant Colonel Lindsay Dudley is excited to share her leadership journey with student organization leaders at the Gamecocks LEAD Conference! Dudley will highlight her past experiences as a student leader, transitioning into a leadership role in graduate school and the military, and share skills that she has learned throughout her journy.

Leadership and Service Center