The Midwest Asian-American Students Union is providing students with the opportunity to become better leaders annual.

NIU will host this year’s MAASU fall leadership retreat.

Sponsored by the Presidential Task Force on Asian Americans and the Student Association, the retreat will begin Friday night with entertainment. Workshops and presentations will take place throughout the day Saturday.

The theme this year is “Cultivating Innovative Leaders.” The focus will be on nurturing leadership qualities in students at NIU and from surrounding schools in the Midwest, said Linda Luk, secretary of MAASU.

The retreat will feature workshops, a panel discussion and presentations.

Some of the workshops will discuss Greek leadership in the Asian-American community, recruitment and retention, and leaving a legacy on campus.

The keynote speaker will be Sen. Mee Moua (D-Minn.). She will present Saturday night at the banquet from 7 to 9 p.m.

“She is the first Hmong American elected to state office. She will be discussing her experiences as a leader,” Luk said.

Providing an opportunity for student interaction with Asian-American leaders allows them to serve as role models for students, said Michelle Bringas, program coordinator for University Programming and Activities.

The retreat is meant to provide students with strategies about how to become leaders in a campus organization.

“They will see that they can make a difference in their community and on their campus,” Bringas said.