The Center for Student Involvement (CSI) launched the new Lunch with the Leaders series this semester to let students lunch with successful leaders in the Northeast Ohio community.

“We talked about doing this last semester, but it’s finally up and running,” said Emily Yoder, Center for Student Involvement intern.

Brenda McKenzie, associate director at CSI, said the lunch series is new this spring at Kent State. She said she based the program off of a similar series offered at the University of Memphis.

“I thought it would be a nice opportunity to provide a small group interaction between students and leaders in the (Kent) community,” McKenzie said.

The first 50 students who sign up can enjoy soup, salad and sandwiches from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 29 in Room 310 of the Student Center. McKenzie said Da’Ron Henderson will talk with them about his success as the owner of DLH Enterprises and his past experience as a Kent State student.

“Many of the staff in CSI knew Da’Ron when he was a student here,” McKenzie said. “A great number of our student groups use his company for marketing materials, so he seemed like a natural person for us to invite–someone students would be familiar with.”

Yoder said the event might benefit visual communication design, marketing, public relations and entrepreneurship students most because of Henderson’s leadership focus.

“The event gives students a chance to see what leadership looks like outside of Kent State,” Yoder said. “I talked with Da’Ron and in the brief interactions we’ve had, he’s very personable, easy-going and I can tell students will learn a lot from just speaking to him.”

Yoder said CSI plans to host two to three different luncheons throughout spring semester. The next event will probably feature a woman leader sometime in March.

About 25 students can still sign up for the luncheon. Registration for the event closes at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Students who wish to attend can either email [email protected] or stop by Room 226 of the Student Center today.

Contact Megan Wilkinson at [email protected].