Leadership Development

A hand putting a wad of paper in a trashcan.

Oct 6, 2025

From Tailgate Trash to Transformative Leadership: Paul Mobley’s “Chuck It” Legacy

When Paul Mobley applied to the Caldwell Fellows program as a student at NC State, he never imagined that his stipend proposal would become a campus-wide sustainability initiative—let alone a defining…

The 2025 New York City participants in a group photo in Times Square at night.

Sep 10, 2025

Threading Stories: A Caldwell Fellows Journey Through New York City

These words, spoken by one of our students to Dr. Brewer after Saturday evening’s Broadway performance, perfectly capture what made our recent New York City trip so powerful. Over three…

Susannah Weaver, Chester Brewer, Cassondra Soter, and Ian Johnson chatting before the August 2025 Dinner Seminar.

Sep 3, 2025

August 2025 Dinner Seminar Recap

The Caldwell Fellows launched the 2025–2026 academic year with a joyful dinner seminar that reconvened friends and highlighted the individual activities done over the summer. After a warm welcome from…

Kaitlyn Gainey in a utility vest and hard hat in front of a parking lot.

Aug 25, 2025

Building More Than Structures: A Caldwell Fellow’s Summer in Construction

For Kaitlyn Gainey, Caldwell Class of 2026, this summer has been about more than learning the technical aspects of construction engineering. As a Project Engineer Intern with DPR Construction at…

Lainey Volz works on her laptop in front of a large billboard.

Aug 20, 2025

Lainey Volz: Servant Leadership is in Style

Leadership Through Service and Growth Lainey Volz exemplifies servant leadership through her approach to feedback, community building, and continuous learning during her summer apparel design internship at Victoria’s Secret PINK.…

Aug 11, 2025

Gratitude and Growth: A Mahika Patil’s Journey in Tech Leadership

For Mahika Patil, being a Caldwell Fellow means never having to lead or grow alone. “I’m part of a community that values reflection over performance, and people over perfection,” she…

Lelani Williamson on a small boat holding a paddle.

Aug 4, 2025

Lelani Williamson Explores Oxford University

Caldwell has monumentally shaped the way Lelani approaches daily encounters and larger roles in her life. She has internalized lessons on active listening, skilled communication, and systems thinking, seeing how…

Oliver standing outside the Donald Danforth Plant Sciences Center

Jul 30, 2025

Oliver Walters-Clift: Summer Research Experience at Donald Danforth Plant Sciences Center

Research Experience and Leadership Application This summer, Oliver Walters-Clift (Caldwell Class of 2027) is conducting NSF-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) work in the Gehan Lab at the Donald Danforth…

Josue Avalos Jimenez standing in front of the Nintendo of America headquarters with Yoshi the dinosaur.

Jul 21, 2025

From Self-Doubt to Servant Leadership: Josue Avalos Jimenez’s Journey at Nintendo

When Josue Avalos Jimenez first joined the Caldwell Fellows program, he wrote his personal essay about how little he considered himself a leader. Today, as he completes a transformative summer…

Jul 14, 2025

From Comfort Zone to Cultural Connection: Ginny Overbay’s Czech Republic Journey

When Ginny Overbay stepped off the plane in Prague for her summer internship at the Institute of Thermomechanics, she was embarking on more than just a professional experience—she was putting…