Aaron is the Program Director for Leadership Enrichment Programs at the U of M. A committed teacher and learner in leadership development, Aaron has taught in the Leadership Minor since 2004. He also leads study abroad courses for the Leadership Minor. In his free time, Aaron is passionate about health and wellness; he is a yoga instructor and involved in community organizations focusing on mental health and substance abuse.

(She/Her) I literally put the "hip" in leadership...you can ask my previous students - or just ask about the leadership tattoo on my hip. I'm not joking, I actually have this tattoo IRL. As you can see, I try to stay "hip" with the lingo and even create some of my own (isn't that "amay!"). I continually find connections between students, the real world, and our class community by balancing the need for challenge and support in the classroom.

(She/Her) I am a graduate of the University of Minnesota, Master of Liberal Studies, with an interdisciplinary focus of video production, theatrical direction, and minority / marginalized community cultural patterns. I'm an athlete, a mother, a mentor, an educator, a creative, and an ally. I love the moment in learning when we find out something new about ourselves and then explore what that means for our growth. My sections are high engagement and transformational.

(She/Her) As an advocate and entrepreneur throughout my life, I strive to inspire, support and challenge my students to consider their possibilities, their voices and the possibilities and voices of others to grow their leadership potential. In my spare time, I am a children's book author and diehard advocate for girls and women in sports!

(She/Her) I love teaching and talking about "leadership", having not performed well in a traditional "school" setting, I strive to create a leadership classroom that welcomes and invites every learner to participate. Helping students explore their values and identities, where these come from and how this all impacts us as leaders is an essential part of this process. I like to laugh and get to know students as we dig into questions together. Oh and an added benefit is I have purple hair and love to bring stories of my kids and family into the mix!!

(She/Her) Melanie loves to partner with students to uncover the why’s in their lives and in the world we all live in. She knows a lot about personality “science” and works to create classroom spaces that invite authentic participation. She enjoys teaching with a clear plan, but is always ready to change direction when the moment calls.

(She/Her) Karmit is a full-time nonprofit executive director, teacher and consultant. She loves helping students to find their passion and their voice and fully believes that leadership lies within every human being.

I am to bring an open mind and respect to my classroom while stimulating critical thinking and creative process of learning. I work with students to co-create an atmosphere of serendipity and meaningful encounters with the class material.

(She/Her) I didn't grow up with a lot of leaders and teachers who looked like me, so it took me a while to see my personal style as valid, important, or "leadership." This directly impacts my ultimate teaching goal, which is to create spaces where people see themselves and their unique gifts as valid, important, and just as much leadership as the next person. Teaching is the most challenging and rewarding thing I've done in my life (besides my first backpacking experience, but, another time), and the lessons I learn from students, the connections, the growth all keep me going.

Isadora is ADAPTIVE- makes shifts in the moment to ensure pressing needs are met; TRANSPARENT- makes communication top priority; REFLECTIVE- believes in ongoing assessment of learnings and experiences. These principles guide her teaching, and work to foster leadership within students. Her experience as a leadership minor instructor, has pushed her to be comfortable with discomfort, and made her more conscious of her identity as an equity leader.