“My biggest advice for students is to take chances and risks in college when it comes to getting involved or being a student leader. I have definitely failed in getting some positions on campus but I have also succeeded and fallen in love with other organizations. You will never be able to “Follow Your Passion” on campus if you haven’t found it. So find your passion and then find your place on campus.” -Francis Ahrens

Wise words from a senior who will be graduating in the fall. Francis is a Public Relations major who has completed all of our leadership programs. He has also served as a facilitator for Emerging and Centennial Leaders. While he spends a good deal of time with the Leadership Development folks on campus, Francis certainly hasn’t limited himself to one area. A member of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, he has served on his chapters’ executive board and will be biking across the country this summer to benefit people with disabilities! In addition to that heartwarming work, Ahrens has been a Resident Assistant and is currently a University Ambassador for which he just finished a term as Recruitment Co-Chair. Francis was also on Homecoming Court last year which is an enormous honor that very few students receive. He got his start at Missouri State in Leadership Development programs, so we wondered what our programs have done for him.

“The biggest impact that the programs have had on me is the chance to meet so many student leaders on campus. I have gotten to see how other people work in different situations and what their leadership styles are.”