Power Skills: Preparing Le Moyne Students for What Comes Next
The skills that matter most in today’s workforce: communication, collaboration, adaptability, and empathy can’t be automated. At Le Moyne, we know they’re essential.
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape how work gets done, the abilities that allow people to connect ideas, work across differences, and adapt to change are becoming more valuable than ever. These “power skills” reflect our Jesuit mission and commitment to educating the whole person: preparing students not just to succeed in their careers, but to lead with purpose in a rapidly changing world.
Why Power Skills Matter Now
- The ability to communicate effectively.
- The willingness to work as part of a team.
- The capacity to adapt quickly to new circumstances.
- The empathy to understand and support others.
These skills are foundational. It’s simply not possible to innovate, create, or lead effectively without them. And in a moment when technology is transforming nearly every industry, power skills remain uniquely human and increasingly essential.
At Le Moyne, students cultivate these skills alongside technical knowledge, learning how to think critically, collaborate meaningfully, and approach complex challenges with creativity and care.
Collaboration and communication have always been important in scientific research, but collaboration may be getting more important as equipment and areas of expertise get ever more specialized.”
Power Skills in Action: Alumni Outcomes
For Le Moyne alumni, these skills don’t stay in the classroom — they show up every day at work.
Giavonni Lucas ’95
Giavonni Lucas ’95, senior vice president of culture and talent acquisition at Nationwide, sees these skills as increasingly critical in a workforce shaped by rapid technological change. “There is a strong intersection between power skills and AI,” Lucas says. “We need both if we’re going to succeed in the future.” As the pace of change accelerates and workplaces become more interconnected, Le Moyne graduates are prepared not only with knowledge, but with the human skills needed to lead, collaborate, and adapt — wherever their paths take them next.
Veronica Ung-Kono ’18
Veronica Ung-Kono ’18, an attorney with the Environmental Defense Fund, focuses on environmental and clean energy advocacy. In her work, understanding context, building trust, and collaborating with diverse stakeholders are essential. “Informed decision-making comes from being open to learning from a diverse set of advocates already in the space,” she says. “Then you find where you can leverage your strengths and uplift existing advocacy.” She also emphasizes the importance of enthusiasm — the ability to bring energy, optimism, and momentum to complex work.
Evan Davis ’18
Evan Davis ’18 is an applied research scientist at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, where he focuses on the early detection and prevention of pancreatic cancer. He credits his success to the collaborative skills he developed as a student. “Our distinct backgrounds allow us to collaborate with one another in a way that wouldn’t be possible if we all had the same area of expertise,” Davis says. “That leads to more thoughtful, innovative work and better outcomes for the patient population we aim to serve.” Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, Davis sees firsthand how communication, adaptability, and teamwork are critical — especially for scientists who want to grow into leadership roles.
Marcella Christensen ’22
Marcella Christensen ’22 works as an IT risk analyst at MetLife, where adaptability and a growth mindset are essential as cyber threats continue to evolve. As a Le Moyne student, Christensen balanced rigorous coursework with hands-on experiences, including serving as an EMT and competing as a student-athlete on the swim team. “The environment that Le Moyne created allowed me to discover and grow a variety of skills that have been an essential part of my everyday life,” she says. “Adaptability was especially important when I changed my major from biology to cybersecurity, and the program challenged me to deepen my communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.”
As accounting becomes more complex and technical, professionals must also communicate effectively across multiple platforms and adapt to flexible, often remote environments. That’s why it’s essential for students to develop not only technical expertise, but the ability to adapt quickly as workplace expectations evolve.”
Take a Deeper Dive
Inspired by These Stories?
These stories show that power skills are woven throughout the Le Moyne experience: from the classroom and research opportunities to internships, advising, and life beyond graduation. See more ways we'll prepare you to lead, adapt, and thrive.
