Student Leadership in Community Colleges

This Democracy's College episode explores the power, complexity, and impact of student leadership in Illinois community colleges, with insights from student leader Leonidas Hamza as well as from Deana Schenk, the senior director for student success at the Illinois Community College Board. Host Nina Owolabi guides a conversation that highlights how community colleges serve as vital, yet often overlooked, spaces for leadership development, institutions in which students navigate barriers such as basic‑needs insecurity, time constraints, and institutional structures. Schenk describes how the Student Advisory Committee (SAC) transforms student experiences into actionable policy recommendations, noting that "student input through SAC is really intentionally structured to move that conversation into real impact." Hamza, meanwhile, shares his journey of finding his voice and stepping into leadership, saying, "I began networking and meeting faculty and students… and during that time, I was able to… organize my thoughts, which essentially organized my voice." Together, the guests illuminate how student advocacy, especially through efforts like Advocacy Day by the University of Illinois System, shape statewide policy conversations and strengthen the community college ecosystem.