by Kayla Smith
For some, leadership is a calling. But leaders are not made overnight. They are shaped gradually by the efforts of their teachers and the influence of their peers.
With that purpose in mind, OBU established the President’s Leadership Class in fall 2025.
Created by OBU President Heath A. Thomas, the yearlong program prepares freshmen to become leaders through instruction, service and practical experience.
PLC students attend mandatory meetings twice a month, complete a group community service project each semester and remain available to serve as ambassadors for the president and university.
Entering the program is no easy task. To be considered, a prospective student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25, a minimum ACT score of 23, a proven record of leadership, strong academic achievement and a desire to grow as part of a team.
A committee selects approximately 25 freshmen for the program each year. Those students spend the next eight months studying leadership and learning how to apply its principles in various areas of their lives.
But what is leadership?
Janis Rasnic, PLC director and OBU’s church relations liaison, said leadership involves influence and impact in situations ranging from conversations between roommates to directing a team. She does not define leadership solely as having authority over others. Instead, she emphasizes servant leadership, through which Christ is exalted and others are empowered.
PLC lessons focus on qualities such as humility, wisdom, decisiveness and kindness.
“You can’t lead others until you lead yourself,” Rasnic said. “We want students to ask themselves, ‘What is it like to be on the other side of me?’”
Thomas, Rasnic and others involved with PLC want students to gain as much as possible from the experience. Participants read books about communication, attend a fall retreat, visit the state Capitol and hear from experienced speakers. Students are expected to participate and interact with their classmates. They are encouraged to be bold in those interactions rather than shrinking back.
“Are they being good stewards of everything given to them?” Rasnic said. “We want to be contributors, not consumers.”
The benefits of PLC are not limited to freshman year. They can extend throughout a student’s academic career.
The skills students develop can prepare them to serve in organizations such as the Student Government Association and Campus Activities Board or pursue campus jobs such as resident assistant positions.
PLC’s goal is to transform students over the course of eight months by helping them mature in their faith, academics and understanding of leadership.
Rasnic said students should not be the same in April as they were in September. They should understand leadership strategies, know how to influence others positively and be prepared to glorify Christ through their actions.
Although PLC is only in its second year, the program was a long time in the making.
Thomas entered office with the program in mind, but the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 EF2 tornado forced him to place those plans on hold.
PLC was finally introduced in August 2025, and its inaugural class completed the program in April 2026. The program’s second class held its meet-and-greet Sept. 8.
As OBU welcomes the second President’s Leadership Class, the future looks bright for the program.
Its curriculum is comparable to programs at larger universities, while OBU’s close-knit atmosphere allows each student to receive individualized attention.
Competition for a place in the class remains strong, with only about 25 freshmen accepted each year.
Most importantly, the program’s influence could be felt on Bison Hill for years as its students grow and become leaders in their communities and chosen fields.
So, what is leadership? Ask someone in PLC, and that student will be ready to tell you.
Courtesy photo/The Bison. File photo from OBU’s PLC page.
