Student Leadership and Development (SLD) at Stanislaus State offers great opportunities for students to be successful in college and provides an additional layer to the college experience. SLD provides specific programs and organizations to help students navigate campus and get involved. This includes New Student Orientation (NSO), numerous clubs, Panhellenic groups like fraternities and sororities and programs such as the Warrior Leadership program. 
According to SLD mission, “SLD is committed to cultivating community and fostering engagement through co-curricular learning. Our core purpose is to orient students to the university; serve as a home base for Student Organizations and Fraternity/Sorority Life; provide leadership development opportunities; and promote student engagement and student growth.” 
Julie Anaya, coordinator for student organizations, helps oversee the recognition of student organizations and helps students grow their leadership abilities. She also helps to support student events and has vast experience with helping students achieve great opportunities at Stan State. 
“What I really want students to know about Student Leadership and Development is that we are the homebase for student organizations, really for any student who wants to get involved on campus. Anaya said. “We are the space for students to find something to really enhance their college experience, we want to be that door to open opportunities for them.”
One of the opportunities that SLD offers at Stan State is the Warrior Leadership Program, she explained.
“The Warrior Leadership Program is the stepping stone,” she said. “If you’re looking to attend different workshops, community service and have something to show for your experience like the certificate we offer, this is a great start for you.
She added that the experience creates a co-curricular transcript for students.
“What I really want students to know about Student Leadership and Development is that we are the homebase for student organizations, really for any student who wants to get involved on campus.”
Julie Anaya
“You’re able to have something to show for all of the workshops and community service,” she said.
Another opportunity that SLD offers is the Marvalene Hughes Leadership Conference, coming up in October. Anaya explained that this leadership conference is geared towards students who have never been exposed to leadership and/or want to build leadership skills and is an opportunity for students to join a wide variety of leadership workshops to gain experience with community service.
 Anaya added that SLD stresses the importance of students getting involved on campus.
“As someone who employs students in assistant positions and internship positions, I know that when I look at a student’s résumé I am looking to see what they’ve been involved in,” she said.
She said she explains to students that an employer might look to see if they have been in a risk management position or if they have experience working with large populations of people.
“If you’ve had these experiences in your organization that you’re a part of, this can greatly benefit students when they’re applying for jobs,” she said.
She added that through her experience as being a part of a Panhellenic sorority on campus, she was able to learn marketing skills, interpersonal communication, and networking skills. Having these experiences greatly helps students build that professional experience, she says. 
“I have been a witness to hundreds of professional high-ranking National Panhellenic women who have come together to use their voice in Congress, in the White House, in these really high ranking places,” Anaya said. “For National Panhellenic women we have to practice what we preach and put into practice being that voice and using our professionalism for good.”
Finding an org that’s right for you
There are ways for students to find their niches when it comes to finding the right organization for them. If a student comes into SLD and wants to be involved, but doesn’t know where to start, Anaya always recommends students to take the warrior involvement calculator.
“This will spit out some of those organizations that might be of interest to students when they complete the form”, she said. “Organizations allow students to gain experience in professionalism and organizational communication and much more.” 
Anaya also shared some advice for incoming students.
“For incoming students, get engaged and involved, find whatever works for you and whatever makes you feel connected to campus and find your community,” she said.
Getting involved on campus can look like joining a club, getting an on-campus job or joining Student Government, she added.
“We want students to feel confident, comfortable and that they belong on our campus and in our community,” she said. “There’s so much that you get just from coming to campus.”
David Gonzalez (senior, Business) was a recipient of SLD’s help during New Student Orientation.
“They gave us the inside scoop of what types of clubs we could join,” he said. “SLD’s advice regarding networking definitely helped me get to know new people on campus during the new semester and I was able to learn about what campus has to offer.”
Stephanie Hubbard, director of SLD since 2018, helps oversee the department as a whole and has an extensive amount of experience with students. She started her professional career as a hall director through housing, where she worked for 25 years. When Hubbard discovered Stan State, she worked as an assistant to the vice president and helped establish the Warrior Cross Cultural Center. 
“Our entire team’s mentality is that we are here for students,” she said. “We have a lot of opportunities for students to get involved on campus and to participate in leadership programs.”
She added that it’s especially important for students to get involved coming out of downtime during the pandemic.
“Students need to get involved,” she said. “There are tons of groups and organizations students can join. I encourage students to attend other organizations that they wouldn’t think they would join.”  
Hubbard expressed her respect and admiration of Stan State students who get involved.
“I worked with a lot of different students, but the students here are special,” she said. “Many of the students are first generation and they just have a real drive to succeed and be successful. What it takes for students to get on campus and how they show up in class and as involved students is great.”
Hubbard added that her personal mission as director of SLD is to make a difference for students.
“I hope that it is a positive one that my students grow from,” she said. 
For more information on SLD and Stan State student orgs visit Student Leadership and Development. Or visit them in person on the second floor of the University Student Center, Suite 206.