Connecting Civility, Relationships,

Reputation and Responsibility with College and Career Success

Washington DC September 4, 2012

Washington DC Area entrepreneur and author, Yasmin Anderson Smith ignited the hearts and minds of first year students at Washington Adventist University (WAU) with her message CivilityWISE – Strengthening Your Reputation, Relationships and Responsibility. Colorful imagery and video were used to convey the meaning of civility, the principles of Respect, Restraint, Responsibility and Reverence and twenty-five, life enhancing rules of considerate conduct. Nearly 200 students and faculty who attended the August 29, 2012 event engaged in real-world examples of choosing civility and practicing every day acts of kindness and consideration towards others. Ms. Anderson-Smith's presentation echoed the University's 2012 first year orientation theme, Choices, Mental, Moral, Material.

Ms. Anderson-Smith joined university President, Dr. Weymouth Spence, Vice President for Student Life, Dr. Jean Ward and Dr. Joan Frances who spoke to students about making choices for personal achievement, dressing for success and setting goals. Her message explained why respect, self control, responsibility and everyday acts like listening, speaking kindly and apologizing sincerely were important to building positive relationships and personal reputations on and off campus. Drawing on her civility, image and personal branding expertise, Ms. Anderson-Smith's message helped students connect choosing civility with the everyday realities of college life and achieving success through career and beyond. Students received a choosing civility personal assessment and a flyer featuring the twenty-five rules which were originated by renowned civility expert, Dr. P.M. Forni, co-founder of The Civility Project at John Hopkins University. Following the orientation day presentations, Dr. Spence commented that civility was important to "educating a new generation of students on life's basic skill – building human relationships."

Ms. Anderson-Smith is president of KYMS Image International, co-author of The Power of Civility and several articles on civility, business image, etiquette and personal branding. Her work as civility advocate, speaker and trainer has inspired many educational and promotional programs around the world. These programs aim to increase awareness about civility and provide the skill set necessary to help people, schools, communities and businesses have happier and more harmonious relationships. CivilityWISE is Ms. Anderson-Smith's newest Discover Civility education and training program.

Yasmin Anderson-Smith, AICI CIP, CPBS

K.Y.M.S. Image International

www.kymsimage.com

www.civilityexperts.com