CAMPUSPEAK

A multifaceted speaker that has been encouraging college students to excel in leadership, diversity, wellness and success for years.

Today, she speaks to students and professionals across the country on leadership, diversity, wellness and personal success. Pulling from her experiences as a campus professional, college coach, athlete and musician, Elaine weaves discussion, stories, audience participation and music into her keynotes to inspire all who hear her speak.

• Keynotes

• A Life of Achievement
• A Mixed Bag: A New Look at Diversity
• The Journey to Success – For New Students
• Don’t Run on Empty: Find Balance and Reduce Stress in the Chaos of College

A Life of Achievement

What is the key to achieving your goals? Is it intelligence, talent, wealth? These can only get you so far.

In A Life of Achievement, Elaine Penn explores the real path to achieving success and happiness, with the most important component being the discovery of what you are passionate about, and pursuing that passion with diligence. In this heart-to-heart leadership program, Elaine shows that whether you are an athlete, musician, club president, teacher or doctor, you must love what you do, work hard, focus and persevere. Along the way, you can’t forget the importance of integrity, being positive, building meaningful relationships and making a positive contribution to the world. These are the achievements that will enrich your life the most!

This keynote is great for any leadership program.

A Mixed Bag: A New Look at Diversity

Since second grade, students’ minds have been inundated with the idea of diversity. Skin color, religious affiliation, sexual preference and other categories that can dehumanize and simplify our multifaceted nature. Students are thirsty for something new—an innovative, creative take on diversity. That’s where Elaine comes in.

Elaine has been speaking for decades on issues related to diversity, leadership and general wellness. Elaine says, “The time has come to embrace a new definition of diversity that includes, but goes beyond race, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, gender, or age.”

A Mixed Bag: A New Look at Diversity does just that—it allows students to take a look at the diverse backgrounds that aren’t so obvious. Personal experiences, belief systems, mental health difficulties and stereotypes name just a few of the elements that contribute to the development of men and women. Elaine will address these issues through story-telling, music and true-life experiences from college students nationwide. It’s a very relatable, relevant message!

In a keynote both interactive and thought-provoking, Elaine guides students through a journey that dispels stereotypes and ignites a spirit of unity, as students embrace the idea that we all have a history… and we all have a future. How we get there is the diversity piece. “You need to take the time to know each individual… then another… then another… and so on,” says Elaine. Ultimately, creating a diverse campus is about living together, connecting and building a community.

The Journey to Success – For New Students

New student programming is about encouraging success, smart decisions and investment in all the opportunities that college has to offer. But, there’s no reason why that programming should be boring, preachy or cheesy. Elaine Penn has been providing fun, interactive orientation programs for more than a decade.

“It’s choice, not chance, that determines your destiny.” This idea is ever present in Journey to Success, as Elaine shares inspiring stories about people who, regardless of their life circumstances, understood that success was in their hands. In these empowering tales, men and women defied the odds and achieved their goals. The same is true for college students. Each day, the choices that students make determine their achievement of success. Using storytelling, discussion, music and audience interaction, Elaine explores the importance of setting priorities, believing in yourself and stepping out of your comfort zones. She might even convince students to turn off the video games, stop focusing on their phones and meet the amazing new people surrounding them! Students emerge from Elaine’s programs understanding that their journey is, in fact, truly theirs.

Don’t Run on Empty: Find Balance and Reduce Stress in the Chaos of College

College can be overwhelming and exhausting. Between academic, extracurricular, social, volunteer and work obligations, many students feel stuck in fast forward. Each day is like a race against time, cramming more and more into less and less time. From fast food to Facebook, it’s as if everything is flying at 100 miles per hour. Somewhere, we lose sight of the damage this jet set lifestyle has on us.

For college students, depression and anxiety are on the rise, while creativity, cognitive function and overall health are on the decline. In Don’t Run On Empty, Elaine appeals to students to take responsibility for the type of lives they want to lead, and make an effort to find more balance and reduce stress; intellectually, emotionally and spiritually. Leading the students through relaxation exercises, Elaine shows that one of the best ways to do this is by “massaging the brain” everyday with techniques such as focused breathing, relaxation and awareness. Elaine makes the point that being more balanced does not require a major change in your life. Sometimes it’s as simple as appreciating life instead of always rushing through it. In the end, more balance and less stress leads to improved health, increased learning, enhanced creativity, better relationships and greater happiness in life.

Elaine's Bio

Elaine is a nationally recognized speaker, trainer and performer who has inspired countless people with her dynamic and motivating keynotes. She has also held numerous university positions, including director of special projects, chief fundraiser and executive producer of five award-winning television documentaries, director of campus recreation and assistant volleyball coach.

Elaine received her bachelor’s degree from Greensboro College and her master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. While at Greensboro, she received numerous athletic honors. In recognition of her achievements in basketball, her jersey was retired. She was inducted into the Greensboro College Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.

Growing up in a musical family, Elaine has been singing professionally for most of her life. She has performed in nightclubs, theaters, college campuses and on radio and TV.

Elaine began speaking to college audiences in 1996. Her highly interactive style and use of music enables her to reach people in profound ways. Those who experience Elaine’s keynotes leave feeling motivated, informed and inspired.