Three Florida State University students represented the iSchool and the university’s National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) chapter at the 2025 Regional Leadership Conference (RLC), an annual event hosted by the South Atlantic Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls (SAACURH). The conference took place in Greensboro, North Carolina, from Friday, Nov. 21, through Sunday, Nov. 23, and brought student leaders together from across the South Atlantic region for a weekend of leadership development and networking. The FSU delegation included Tanushree Dhage, NRHH vice president of leadership and service; Damien King, NRHH president; and LeKayla Griffin, who attended as a general member delegate.

“I got the chance to attend several educational sessions during RLC, and one that stuck out to me the most was the one about conflict resolution in teams,” Dhage said. “With our chapter having faced several challenges over the last few months, the lessons I learned from that session are something I will definitely be applying with my team in the Spring semester.”

Throughout the weekend, students participated in sessions focused on leadership development, effective communication, and organizational growth. Dhage, who attended her second RLC and fourth NRHH conference overall, added that hearing how other institutions approach leadership and service sparked new ideas she is already planning to implement during the Spring 2026 semester.

In addition to attending sessions, Dhage presented a case study alongside teammates Hope Banks and Lillie Gilfry that explored how NRHH chapters can support their campuses in the aftermath of severe weather. The presentation challenged participants to recognize acts of leadership that help the community come together, make recognition feel inclusive, utilize the NRHH platform to encourage long-term connection, and establish lasting traditions to celebrate resilience in the future.

For King, the conference provided an opportunity to support his delegation while also serving as the RLC’s finance chair. He said one of his primary goals was ensuring Griffin felt prepared and encouraged while representing FSU. He recognizes the importance of a conference like the RLC for connecting with other students.

“The most important thing I learned was how important it is for students to have these spaces to talk to other student leaders about the issues they’re experiencing on their campuses and to learn how others navigate challenges like student engagement, programming, or dealing with administrative conflict,” King said.

King added that ideas shared at the RLC will help strengthen communication between NRHH members and professional residence life staff, particularly to improve the living experience for students in residence halls.

Griffin said attending RLC gave her new perspectives on leadership, programming, and community development. She participated in sessions that focused on innovative event planning, recognition, and how different institutions structure their NRHH chapters, all of which she hopes to bring back to campus.

“My biggest takeaway was how powerful connection and collaboration can be,” Griffin said. “I also learned leadership goes far beyond holding a title. It’s about showing up, trying new things, and building community wherever you are.”

All three students emphasized the conference’s impact on their personal and professional growth and encouraged other students to take advantage of similar opportunities. They included that experiences like this are great for résumés and graduate school applications, while also giving students the chance to impact NRHH and residence life.