CHSU Pharmacy Student Accepted into PLS Leader Academy

Fourth year CHSU College of Pharmacy student, Karen Cruz Pelham was one of 22 collegiate pharmacy students from across the country to be accepted into the inaugural Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society’s (PLS) Leader Academy class for 2020-2021. This intensive and prestigious leadership training program allows participants to develop an awareness of self and others to become a leader that enriches and encourages others to be their best selves.
“As a member of Phi Lambda Sigma, I make it a point to keep growing and lead by example. I hope that I am able to share what I have learned with my fellow colleagues and inspire others to seek out opportunities that allows them to grow as individuals,” says Karen.
This program includes bi-monthly cohort meetings and individual coaching sessions that will give participants the tools to improve their communication skills, develop better emotional intelligence, and knowledge of how to positively influence others.

“I hope to hone my leadership skills so that I can become an effective leader after taking part in the PLS Leader Academy,” says Karen.

In her time at CHSU, Karen has already demonstrated her leadership abilities. As the Class of 2021 President for the past two years and holding various leadership positions in multiple student organizations (including Phi Lambda Sigma, Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity, and Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA), Karen leads by example and continues to be an inspiration to her peers.
Karen spent her third year at CHSU not only serving as class president, working part-time, and going to pharmacy school, but also attending to the needs of her mother, who unfortunately died from brain cancer in December 2019. This came on the heels of losing her father during her sophomore year of her undergraduate studies at Fresno State. While Karen’s passion for a career in pharmacy was sparked by watching her father battle Multiple Sclerosis and experiencing how all his medications were impacting his body, she credits her mom for helping her get into and secure financial aid for pharmacy school.
“I dedicate all my hard work and efforts to my mom and dad and I always want to make them proud,” she says, “I know they are watching over me everyday.”
Karen will begin her work in the PLS Leader Academy this October and will complete the academy in May 2021.
Read the full press release from Phi Lambda Sigma here: http://philambdasigma.org/Press-Releases/9258235