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What does it mean to lead? For students at Mount Saint Mary’s University, leadership can begin with a simple question: Who am I called to serve?

The 2026 MOUNTLeads Leadership Summit, celebrated on September 12, invited students to explore that question through a day of reflection, discussion and learning focused on leadership, service, civic engagement and responsibility to the common good. Organized by the Office of Student Life, Women’s Leadership and Community Engagement, the summit is a cornerstone of the MOUNTLeads program and supports the University’s broader commitment to helping students see themselves as leaders and agents of change.

The summit opened with a keynote address from Darryn Harris, chief government affairs and community relations officer at St. John’s Community Health. A lifelong Angeleno and public servant, Harris has spent nearly two decades working across government, higher education, healthcare and community engagement. In his current role, he leads government affairs, advocacy, civic engagement and community relations efforts focused on expanding healthcare access and strengthening underserved communities.

Harris encouraged students to see civic engagement as an ongoing form of leadership, one that extends beyond voting to include advocacy, community involvement and bringing people together around shared needs. His message resonated with students as they considered how their own voices and experiences could contribute to positive change.

The conversation continued throughout the summit’s sessions. In “Called to Service,” students explored civic engagement through the lens of the Sisters of St. Joseph tradition of serving the “dear neighbor,” considering how voting, advocacy, volunteering and public leadership can be forms of service. A parallel session, “Listen Deeply, Act Boldly,” introduced restorative leadership and civic engagement as approaches to building trust, strengthening relationships and working toward community repair.

Students also participated in “The Future We Want” Civic Vision Lab, creating space to think about the communities they hope to help shape.

In the afternoon, students turned inward to consider what they are called to contribute. “Called to Lead” invited participants to reflect on the gifts, experiences and values shaping their leadership journeys. “Leadership with Purpose: Finding Your Voice for the Common Good” connected personal purpose with public responsibility, while “Leadership in Service: Civic Engagement and the Common Good” examined civic engagement and social responsibility as expressions of service.

“One of my biggest takeaways from the summit was the importance of keeping the dear neighbor close to your heart and striving to address the needs of your community,” said Alexia Vogdanou ’27, a double major in political science and film and media. “It reminded me that meaningful change starts with each of us taking action and becoming the change we want to see in the world.”

For Lisha K. Maddox, EdD, executive director of Student Life, Women’s Leadership, and Community Engagement, one of the most meaningful aspects of the summit was seeing students move from reflection to action.

“This year's MOUNTLeads Summit invited students to explore what it means to respond to the needs of our time through leadership, service, civic engagement and care for the dear neighbor,” Maddox said. “Students left feeling inspired not only to lead, but to take action.”

The summit ultimately challenged students to think of leadership not simply as a position or title, but as an opportunity to listen, serve, use their voices and respond to the needs around them.