Coordinator of the new Personnel and Professional Development (PPD) program in the Jay S. Sidhu School of Business and Leadership at Wilkes University (US). Matthew Sowcik, MA Matthew Sowcik is the coordinator of the new Personnel and Professional Development (PPD) program in the Jay S. Sidhu School of Business and Leadership at Wilkes University. His primary focus includes the PPD program development and curriculum design, teaching, and conducting research on leadership and emotional intelligence. The unique Personnel and Professional Development series is a seven semester, one credit class (7 credits total). PPD is designed to cultivate and nurture student's leadership and emotional intelligence potential, increase developmental advising, and develop strong career focus. Matthew also works in a consultant role providing employee opinion survey design and administration, leadership and team building training, and strategic organizational planning. Matthew holds a Master's in Organizational Leadership from Columbia University. Session Information: Training Tomorrow's Leaders: Developing the EI of Business Students Key Concepts: Use of MSCEIT with University Students. Importance of EI in the Career Development Process. Stimulate self-directed learning over time. The presentation will cover the design and implementation of the Personal and Professional Development Series (PPD) at the Jay S. Sidhu School of Business and Leadership at Wilkes University. The program has been implemented and mandated for all incoming students majoring in Business Administration, Accounting and Entrepreneurship at Wilkes University. The program is intended to assess and develop key EI skills over a four-year period in seven different PPD classes. The workshop is intended for professionals currently or intending to work with university populations to develop emotional intelligence and/or professionals involved in the career development and counseling of university students. As a result of participation in the workshop the following learning outcomes will be achieved: Best practices for the design and implementation of EI-based leadership programs with university students. Techniques for effective use of the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso - Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) with university students Techniques for effective use of self-directed learning journals, competency role plays and development planning activities to foster on-going development of emotional intelligence In addition, results of empirical research conducted on the initial group of students on the relationship between emotional intelligence as measured the MSCEIT and career decision-making variables will also be discussed. Specifically, an empirical test of a theoretical model of the role of emotions and emotional intelligence in the career decision-making process (Emmerling, 2002; Emmerling & Cherniss, 2003).