The Office of Student Engagement recently held its annual Club Leadership Conference to kick off the 2025-26 academic year. Over 40 club leaders and representatives from a variety of Drew organizations were in attendance to discuss how to be effective leaders and hear exciting new announcements.
Held in person on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 10:30 a.m. in Crawford Hall, the coordinator of student engagement and club life, Terrance Somesla-McCornell (G’25), presided over the event. Somesla-McCornell guided club members through activities to build leadership skills and fielded any questions that club representatives happened to have. He also kept clubs up to date on the Drew Club Life Manual with details on purchase requests, event checklists and the Freedom of Expression policy.
After an icebreaker that united attendees over common struggles that club leaders face, Somesla-McCornell announced the revival of an old tradition: the Battle of Madison Avenue. However, rather than hosting a competition where Drew University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, and Saint Elizabeth University compete to assert their dominance through sports or some other means, the three schools will instead engage in a challenge as to who can raise the most money over a matter of months.
For this friendly fundraising rivalry, Drew will focus on hosting a community service event each month throughout the academic year. Examples of the planned programs include a Food Insecurities Donation Drive during the month of November, followed by the Frelinghuysen Arboretum Festival of Trees decorating, where each event will focus on raising money for the Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation. Organized by the non-profit organization Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, this string of events will revolve around making a real impact and difference for kids who are fighting for their lives and cannot enjoy the same everyday experiences as their peers.
“The initiative is all about building school spirit, fostering community and strengthening engagement between students and the greater Madison area,” said Somesla-McCornell. “It’s not just about raising money; it’s about raising awareness and making a difference for kids who can’t enjoy the same everyday experiences that we do.”
To culminate and celebrate the amount of funds raised, a dance marathon will be held in the spring semester, featuring music, dancing, games and stories from the families that are supported by the fundraising efforts. Students can form a team, donate or simply show up and dance to demonstrate their solidarity with the cause.
In order to coordinate event planning, there will be a joint board of student peers from all three universities. Any students who are interested in participating and have a passion for serving their community will have the opportunity to come together to gain leadership and event-planning experience.
Aside from this huge announcement, Somesla-McCornell also enlisted the help of other Drew staff members to provide club leaders with important resources and information. New to the team is Cassandra Gonzalez, director of student engagement, who introduced herself and greeted students at the beginning of the conference.
Matt Dizinno, assistant facilities and events manager, reviewed steps to take for booking rooms for events, while Lisa Iannello, the executive director for institutional relations, explained how student clubs can seek grants and proposals for funding. The director of the Center for Career Development, Kim Giorgio, also conducted a Club Programming Power Session to suggest ways that club representatives can lead their clubs effectively through planning, programming and organization. Looking forward, students can expect a Pumpkin Carving and Illumination event with Morris Arts on Saturday, Oct. 25. Additionally, any students interested in volunteering, planning and attending events, or simply spreading the word should look out for opportunities to sign up via QR codes or PATH postings. Any questions regarding club life and the Battle of Madison Avenue should be directed to Somesla-McCornell via tsomeslamccorne@drew.edu.
Eva Esqueda is a senior majoring in Media & Communications and minoring in French, American Studies and Film Studies.
