For students interested in the college life at Saint Leo University, several currently-enrolled students host blogs so prospective and fellow students can learn more about what Saint Leo University has to offer.

These blogs look into their educational lifestyles and give a sneak-peek into what it’s like to attend this prestigious school. Here are a few examples of recent blog entries posted by the students:

Mayor Shirley Franklin

The first female mayor in Atlanta’s history and the first African-American woman to run a large Southern city will speak at Saint Leo University’s Atlanta-area commencement this weekend.

Mayor Shirley Franklin took office in 2002 and in 2005 was named by Time magazine as one of the nation’s top five mayors. She is now in her now in her second, and final, term as mayor.

She will be addressing nearly 350 Saint Leo graduates who have studied in the Atlanta area. Most have earned the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree, but the group also includes students who have earned the Associate of Arts degree, the Master of Science in Criminal Justice, and the Master of Business Administration. In fact, this group of graduates includes Saint Leo’s first class of MBA students from our Gwinnett County teaching location in Duluth.

Saint Leo University has long been one of the nation’s leading providers of higher education opportunities to military service members, and will reinforce that commitment with the new enrollments expected because of the new GI Bill. The legislation was passed by Congress last year to improve the educational assistance the country provides to veterans and service members. The bill improves the allowance for tuition and provides a book stipend in addition to providing a housing allowance for many recipients. The tuition benefits can also be applied to online courses. In some cases, service members may be able to transfer tuition benefits to a family member.

Saint Leo University’s administrators are eager to assist veterans ready to enroll in college when the new Post-9/11 GI Bill comes into effect August 1.

Saint Leo University’s Master of Social Work program is an innovative program designed for the busy professional. Classes are attended via webcam and are presented online. This technology allows for face to face interaction in the convenience of your own home.

The MSW program’s mission is to prepare students with the specialized knowledge and skills needed to be culturally competent and ethical social workers in advanced social work practice.

Mr. Thomas O’Brien Speaks at Saint Leo

Mr. Thomas E. O’Brien, president & CEO of AAA Auto Club South, recently spoke to Saint Leo University MBA students and faculty at a Lunch and Learn session at the university’s main campus. The discussion was simulcast to students enrolled at Saint Leo’s Chesapeake, Virginia, and suburban Atlanta teaching locations.

Sharing lessons from his experience as a leading executive in the tourism industry—lessons that can be applied to any business sector—O’Brien focused on the fundamentals required of leaders, especially during a troubled economy.