2025 WILD (Women*s Initiative for Leadership Development) Conference

The Women*s Initiative for Leadership Development (WILD) Conference is a conference for the Michigan State University community to celebrate and learn about feminist leadership.

WHAT IS WILD?

The Women*s Initiative for Leadership Development (or WILD) is a student leadership conference facilitated by a committee of engaged students in collaboration with the office of Women*s Student Services and Women*s Council at Michigan State University.

The vision of WILD is to connect, engage, and prepare individuals and groups at MSU and beyond to be agents of social change on campus, in the community, and for broader society.

WILD 2025 invites attendees to Engage, Empower, and Activate

Historically, WILD has served as a leadership development platform for women, reflected in its name, "Women's Initiative for Leadership Development." While a focus on women's leadership has been valuable for attendees, it often overlooks the diverse and multifaceted identities of the participants. Gender inequity affects individuals of all gender identities, not just women. Gender inequality is also not the only way that individuals experience harm and inequality related to gender identity; racism, ableism, homophobia, and a myriad of other systemic issues shape the way we experience leadership. In order to address the relationship between inequalities, Women*s Student Services is broadening its approach to education and outreach by shifting to a feminist leadership development model. This evolution aims to engage a more inclusive audience and critically explore the intersections of gender, race, ability, sexuality, class, and other dimensions of identity.

This year, WILD invites students to Engage, Empower, and Activate in a space designed to delve into how our identities shape our experiences and the environments we inhabit. The conference will empower students to enhance their ability to either foster inclusive spaces that celebrate their identities or challenge and transform those that do not. We are committed to highlighting and amplifying the impactful work students are already undertaking to better the spaces that they inhabit. WILD will serve as a chance for students to expand their activist toolkits.

The WILD 2025 Conference will be held in the MSU Union at 49 Abbot Rd, East Lansing, MI 48824. Parking will be available at the parking ramp near the Union, at 449 E Circle Dr, East Lansing, MI 48824.

Any questions? Please contact Hannah Wright at [email protected]

Host or Publisher MSU Women's Student Services