Clarkson University Partners With St. Lawrence County Chamber to Support Local Leadership Through New Microcredential

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Clarkson University is partnering with the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce to further support leadership development in the region by offering the St. Lawrence Leadership Institute (SLLI) as an official microcredential, sponsored by Clarkson.

Since 1993, the St. Lawrence Leadership Institute has played a quiet but important role in strengthening the county by preparing residents to better understand local issues and serve their communities. Administered by the Chamber of Commerce, the program brings together professionals from across sectors who share a commitment to the future of St. Lawrence County.

"As an alum of SLLI and current board member, I am honored to be in a position to support the development of a formal microcredential for the program," said Josh LaFave, Director of Graduate Business Programs at Clarkson University. "The mission of this program is inextricably linked to the idea that we have the talent, commitment and collective care for the future of our county. By creating this credential, Clarkson and the County Chamber are reaffirming the importance of leadership development and civic engagement for our home here in St. Lawrence County."

The SLLI curriculum centers on three pillars: leadership development, education on county and regional issues, and relationship-building through networking. Participants engage with topics such as economic development, education, health care and governance, while building the skills and connections needed to contribute meaningfully to their communities.

"It is tremendous that Clarkson University has developed a microcredential that supports the important work within the St. Lawrence Leadership Institute program," said Ben Dixon, Executive Director of the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce and president of the SLLI Board. "The vitality of our communities depends upon the continuing development of its leaders, and the SLLI is doing just that. Clarkson's establishment of the microcredential is a recognition of the program's excellence and a shared commitment to building a strong future for our county."

By formally recognizing the SLLI experience as a microcredential, Clarkson aims to support and elevate a program that has long invested in the people and places of St. Lawrence County, while reinforcing the University's ongoing commitment to the region it calls home.

For more information about the St. Lawrence Leadership Institute, visit visitstlc.com/slli.