Intercultural Leadership

Leading Across Difference
Bluemont Room, 2:50-3:30pm (Session Period 2)

The key to fostering inclusive communities is the development of interculturally competent leaders who move organizations forward in ways that validate cultural differences and commonalities. Grounded in the theoretical frameworks of Transformative Intercultural Learning, Leadership Identity Development, and Strengths-based Leadership, this 45-minute workshop explores how leadership styles and approaches are impacted in varying cultural settings. This workshop is largely experiential in nature and will connect these theoretical frameworks in order to provide a foundational understanding of intercultural leadership development. Participants in this session will engage in a presentation, interactive intercultural leadership activities, and facilitated discussion. Beginning with small-group dialogue on the complexity of identity, participants will explore how culture impacts how we navigate our experiences. This forum will aid us in moving forward effectively as we engage in the challenging task of experiencing unity in diversity. This session is suitable for faculty, staff, and students.

Presenters

Aliah Mestrovich Seay
Instructor, 4-H Youth Development

Aliah Mestrovich Seay is a board certified Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist and Intercultural Development Inventory Qualified Administrator. She works for the Department of 4-H Youth Development as a 4-H Youth Development State Specialist. Mestrovich Seay holds a B.S. degree in Clinical Psychology in French from the Université de Caen, Basse-Normandie, France and a M.A. Degree in Counseling Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy from Argosy University in Orange County, California. She is currently a doctoral student in the K-State Staley School of Leadership Studies. With over 20 years of cumulative experience in K-12, higher education, and the not-for-profit sectors, Aliah’s professional and research interests involve intercultural coaching and training techniques that focus on cultural identity development, mindfulness, and finding innovative ways to engage with difference differently.

Mac Benevides
Doctoral Student in Leadership Communication

Mac Benavides is a doctoral student in the Leadership Communication program at Kansas State University. He has an M.A. in Students Affairs Administration from the University of Nebraska and a B.S. in Secondary Education and a B.A. in Spanish from K-State. Mac has been involved with diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts since his first year at K-State, when he co-founded the K-State council of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) to foster greater community of Latina/o/x students. He has developed, coordinated, and collaborated in numerous intercultural, community-focused programs at K-State and at the University of Nebraska. His research focus is inclusive intercultural leadership development, which is a contextualized approach to leadership identity development that recognizes, values, and adapts to cultural commonality and differences.