iSEE Initiatives
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The Islander Leadership Academy will equip students with essential skills to succeed both academically and professionally. Students will benefit from workshops led by engineers and consultants, gaining valuable insights into real world engineering challenges.
Sponsored by
Spring 2026 Islander Leadership Academy Series
Critical Thinking Workshops
In today’s fast-moving world, success isn’t just about working harder—it’s about thinking better. This interactive workshop helps students understand how people think, decide, and act inside organizations, and how those behaviors directly impact performance, results, and value creation.
What Students Will Learn
By the end of this workshop, students will be able to:
- Understand what “critical thinking” really means Learn how to analyze problems objectively, separate facts from opinions, and avoid letting emotions or assumptions drive decisions.
- Recognize how organizations actually perform Explore how alignment, engagement, processes, and—most importantly—people and purpose determine whether organizations succeed or struggle.
- Identify common thinking traps and cognitive biases Discover how biases like status quo bias, escalation of commitment, and “above-average” thinking quietly influence everyday decisions—and how to counter them.
- Improve decision-making skills Learn why smart people make bad decisions, how sunk costs affect judgement, and how to ask better questions before choosing a path forward.
- Understand the role of attention, focus, and motivation Examine why multitasking hurts performance, how technology affects the brain, and what really motivates people to take action and change.
- Apply practical tools for problem solving Practice structured thinking approaches such as defining the real problem, gathering relevant facts, and using root-cause analysis techniques.
- Develop a mindset for professional success Learn how to challenge your own thinking, stay disciplined, and remain open to better solutions—skills that translate directly to school, work, and leadership roles.
Why This Matters for Students
This workshop goes beyond theory. Students gain real-world thinking skills that employers value—clear judgment, sound decision-making, effective communication, and the ability to solve complex problems in team and organizational settings.
Whether students plan to enter business, engineering, healthcare, public service, or entrepreneurship, these skills help them stand out, adapt, and perform.
Presented by: Rene Ramirez
Rene Ramirez has over 34 years of experience in the Petrochemical Industry with 22 years working in a refinery (over 15 years as a frontline supervisor). Rene has a background in project management, engineering design, construction, maintenance & turnarounds. Since 2012, Rene has worked as a Senior Auditor for BP auditing major projects ($250MM +) and organizational capabilities.
To see full bio, click here
To connect with Rene on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/reneramirezjr/
Dates: Wednesdays, April 1 & 15
Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Location: Bay Hall 127
Register here: Islander Leadership Academy - Critical Thinking Workshop Registration
Working with the Student Services & Success Coordinator (SSSC) helps students identify their academic, social, and career aspirations. The SSSC serves as a resource for students so they can get connected to the appropriate campus and community resources when challenges arise, allowing students to explore proper strategies to help them thrive and ensure that they have a positive and inclusive experience that will foster personal growth.
Additionally, the the SSSC oversees the iSEE mentorship program.