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“My experiences have helped me discover not only what I want to do with my career, but how I want to lead.”

Josie Brooks is a graduate student earning her master’s in public administration, but classroom learning is only a part of her story. The experiences outside the classroom at Kansas State University, the connections and sense of belonging, and the unique perspectives she gained from them all helped Brooks truly unlock her aspirations and professional goals.

Brooks started at K-State by earning her bachelor's degree in human development and family science, with a secondary major in integrated health studies, paired with minors in French and well-being.

“As an undergrad, I realized I thrive in forward-facing leadership roles centered on relationships, inclusion and creating opportunities for others to thrive, and I translated those strengths into a career with my MPA and work on campus.” said Brooks.

Brooks serves as a graduate research assistant at the Staley School of Leadership. There, she has worked with programs that serve students universitywide like ‘Cats Connect, Snyder Leadership Legacy Fellows, the What Matters to Me and Why leadership lecture series, and the K-State First Book Dialogues, a cross-campus collaborative program. Through this role and her part-time job with a local coffee shop, Brooks has seen how leadership, policy, and organizational decisions shape people’s everyday experiences.

At the Staley School of Leadership, one of the core values behind the learning is teaching leadership as an activity, not a position, that anyone can do anytime, anywhere. The concept is woven deeply throughout the leadership and service programs that Brooks is working with. Leadership looks like practicing well-being, building self-confidence, being curious, and being guided by empathy.

K-State’s ‘Cats Connect helps Wildcats build community by providing question cards that participants – grouped by undergraduate or graduate students, faculty and staff – take turns answering and sharing stories. The groups are matched together by people they would not normally meet, making it the perfect opportunity to grow social circles.

Snyder Leadership Legacy Fellows prepares undergraduate seniors for the transition to alumni and life after K-State. And the K-State First Book Dialogues builds community around a common read and deepens understanding with others through conversation.

Technical skill sets such as project management, recruitment, and collaboration are only the beginning of Brooks’ growth. Working with these programs helped Brooks deepen her understanding of her own values and professional goals.

“Through my work, I see how feeling seen, included, and supported can change someone’s confidence and willingness to participate. That has reinforced my belief that leadership is not always about being at the front.”

After completing her MPA, Brooks wants to continue working in spaces where she “can bridge gaps, connect people to opportunities, and create systems where more people can thrive.”

Of course, she’s a huge advocate for getting involved on campus. Brooks suggests that students should try programs even if they don’t have to know what they want to get out of.

“Sometimes the most valuable experiences are the ones that help them discover something within themselves they didn’t know before. Getting involved and investing in yourself can introduce you to people, perspectives, and opportunities that change the way you see yourself and your place within a community.”

And it seems like that is exactly what happened to her.

To learn more about any of the leadership and service programs at the Staley School that Josie works with, visit the Staley School website here.