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Faculty from the Scripps College of Communication shared their communication knowledge and expertise with aspiring leaders in the region at the 2025 Leadership Summit at Ģ����Ƶ University Lancaster last week. More than 65 people participated in the annual summit. The summit aims to create opportunities for connection, learning and personal growth.

Faculty members from the Communication Studies program were a big part of the event. Pam Kaylor and Candice Thomas-Maddox, who both teach on the Lancaster Campus, have organized the event for the last three years. Lillian Zarzar and Karen Deardorff were featured speakers.

Zarzar has been a regular adjunct instructor for the past 13 years. She is the current president of the National Speakers Association Ģ����Ƶ Chapter (NSA Ģ����Ƶ) and was instrumental in helping form a partnership between the Scripps College and NSA Ģ����Ƶ.

Deardorff specializes in Organizational and Health Communication. Her research focuses on communicative strategies used by women living in poverty to remain resilient in the face of material and resource scarcity, organizing for social change, and gendering in organizational communication. Deardorff gave a presentation called “Mastering Difficult Conversations: Blending Toughness with Empathy.”

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“Preparation is one of the biggest keys when you know you are going to have to have a difficult conversation,” said Deardorff. “Many put off these conversations for a long time. But the longer you put it off, the worse it becomes for you and the person you need to talk with.”

She defined a difficult conversation as one where you have to manage emotions and information in a sensitive way to deal with a workplace or personal issue.

“Difficult and tough conversations take courage and preparation,” said Deardoff. “When we avoid difficult conversations, we trade short-term discomfort for long-term dysfunction.”

Deardorff told the group that having difficult conversations can build trust and strengthen relationships, prevent resentment and misunderstanding, and lead to personal and professional growth and progress. She had three pieces of advice on how conversations could be approached which would result in a positive outcome.

“When going into a difficult conversation think about confronting the issue, not the person,” said Deardorff. “Go shoulder-to-shoulder with the person instead of head-to-head. That means you want to work with them to solve the issue. And clarify the issues and barriers instead of blaming the person for the problems.”

Community speakers throughout the day also tackled key leadership challenges, from managing emotions under pressure to overcoming the “likability penalty” that impacts perceptions of authority, and explored how artificial intelligence can boost organizational effectiveness.

“The Leadership Summit is important because it strengthens the community by equipping individuals with essential skills, fostering collaboration, and inspiring innovation,” said , who attended the Lancaster Campus while obtaining her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. “For presenters, like myself, the experience was inspiring because there was such an engaged audience, strong support, and opportunities for meaningful connection and growth.  I came away feeling as if our future in the community is a bright one.  We will meet challenges together, with creativity and leadership.”

“Serving as an organizer for the Leadership Summit has been an incredible experience, especially because most of our trainers are Bobcat alumni or Ģ����Ƶ University employees who bring both expertise and passion to the table,” said Kaylor. “They consistently deliver engaging, high-impact sessions that truly resonate with our participants and reflect the strength of our Bobcat community.”

"The Leadership Summit is more than just a networking event. It is a chance to learn from some of the truly inspiring leaders in our community,” said Thomas Maddox. “When we empower others with the tools to lead, we create ripples that stretch far beyond this single event."

The free, one-day event also featured breakfast, lunch, and the chance to have professional headshots taken by an OHIO photographer. The Leadership Summit is a collaboration between Ģ����Ƶ University and the Fairfield County Foundation.