USC Aiken Interim Vice Chancellor Tapped to Chair National Leadership Program

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AIKEN, SC (10/30/2018) The National Association for Campus Activities recently selected a leader from the University of South Carolina Aiken to spearhead one of its key programs.

NACA chose Ahmed Samaha, interim vice chancellor for student life and services at USC Aiken, as the chair-elect for the 2020 Summer Leadership Event, held at Walt Disney World.

"Your talents, strengths, and experience will be an ideal fit for the team, and we look forward to working with you," wrote Shontae Khaleel White, 2019 coordinator, NACA Summer Institute Series, in the letter to Samaha, informing him of his selection.

NACA partners with Disney every year to provide NACA Summer Institute Series. The leadership event "is a leadership development program for student leaders and professional staff," according to the NACA website.

Students and advisors participate in the event. Students take part in leadership development seminars, team-building exercises, peer training and customer service programs. Advisors will learn how to incorporate Disney leadership concepts into their student training programs, coach students to be peer supervisors, and encourage student leaders to create inclusive environments.

"Each experience has the opportunity to be very meaningful because of the Magic that occurs at Walt Disney World," the NACA website states.

As chair-elect for the event in 2020, Samaha will be responsible for overseeing the development of the curriculum; collaborating with the Disney's Youth Education Series, or YES, professionals; working with the NACA national office to market the program, recruit and select faculty for the institute; and assess the program.

"This is an incredible honor, and I am very excited to be a part of it," Samaha said.

"For many years, USC Aiken has had a strong partnership with NACA and Disney leadership programs.

"I look forward to shaping the agenda for the 2020 Summer Leadership Event and sharing the lessons Pacers and I have learned through this incredible program with other student leaders and administrators."