UA College of Business’ Institute for Leadership Advancement receives national recognition at Pathways 2025 Conference

The University of Akron College of Business was honored on a national stage at the annual Pathways 2025 Conference, presented by Suitable. The College received two awards for excellence in student engagement and programming innovation, highlighting its focus on student leadership development.

The Institute for Leadership Advancement (ILA) earned the Highest Engagement Award, recognizing programs that have a clear insight into what motivates students and have implemented a variety of strategies to encourage student participation and involvement. In parallel, the Experience Guarantee – a signature program of the College of Business – garnered the Suitable Spirit Award, a distinction acknowledging programs that go above and beyond to ensure all students have the opportunity to succeed. By earning the award, the Experience Guarantee embodies values of teamwork, creativity, excellence, diversity, integrity, persistence and grit.

The Pathways conference brings together hundreds of higher education professionals from across the country. Sharing a mission, to "discover new ways to improve student engagement, make more impactful programming decisions, and celebrate student success," attendees amplify the power of a 360-degree education.

In addition to receiving these top honors, Erin Liggett, assistant director, career services & student employment, in the College of Business, led a well-attended breakout session titled, “The Experience Guarantee at UA’s College of Business.”  The session drew more than 150 conference participants eager to learn about the program’s innovative approach to ensuring every student has access to career-shaping experiences like internships, co-ops, leadership development and more.

“These recognitions are a testament to our college’s dedication to student growth and leadership development,” said James Thomson, interim dean and senior associate dean of the College of Business. “We’re proud to be leading the way in preparing students for success beyond the classroom.”

The dual awards and strong presence at the Pathways 2025 Conference all underscore The University of Akron’s commitment to delivering high-impact programming and fostering difference-making leadership development.

To learn more about the UA College of Business Experience Guarantee program, click here.

Story by CoB Marketing.

Media contact: Cristine Boyd, 330-972-6476 or cboyd@uakron.edu.