(June 6, 2007)
–
Some of the
nation’s leading scholars of leadership studies and
representatives of some 50 liberal arts
institutions, including New College of Florida, will
gather June 14-15 in Claremont, Calif., for a
conference on “Leadership Across the Liberal Arts
Curriculum.”
This unprecedented gathering is the capstone of a
three-year initiative funded by the W.M. Keck
Foundation. The project has been dedicated to
integrating topics of responsible leadership across
the liberal arts disciplines.
Dr. Chavella T. Pittman,
assistant professor of sociology, will represent New
College at the conference.
“The conference should provide a forum for
stimulating, thought-provoking discussions among
scholars on best practices for teaching leadership
across the liberal arts curriculum,” said Ronald
Riggio, director of the host institution, the Kravis
Leadership Institute at Claremont McKenna College.
The Kravis Institute, the Institute for Leadership
Studies at Loyola Marymount University and the
Jepson School of Leadership Studies at the
University of Richmond collaborated on the
initiative, which included a 2006 summer workshop,
fellowships for undergraduate students and faculty,
and new interdisciplinary courses developed in the
arts, sciences and social sciences that focus on
leadership themes.
Keynote speakers at the conference include Thomas
Cronin, president emeritus of Whitman College; J.
Thomas Wren, interim dean of Richmond’s Jepson
School; Maria Klawe, president of Harvey Mudd
College; Michael Genovese, director of Loyola
Marymount’s Institute for Leadership Studies; and
Ronald Riggio, director of the Kravis Institute.
Sending representatives to the conference are:
Allegheny College, Averett University, Azusa Pacific
University, Barnard College, Bates College, Beloit
College, Bimingham-Southern College, Claremont
McKenna College, Colgate University, Colorado
College, Cornell College, Creighton University,
Doane College, Fairfield University, Fisk
University, Harvey Mudd College, Hendrix College,
Hollins University, Indiana University, Kalamazoo
College, Loyola Marymount University, Marietta
College, Mercer University, Milsaps College,
Muhlenberg College, Neumann College, New College of
Florida, Pomona College, University of Puget Sound,
Purdue University, Rhodes College, Rollins College,
Savannah College of Art and Design, Skidmore
College, Smith College, Southwestern University,
Spring Hill College, St. Augustine’s College, St.
Mary’s College of Maryland, St. Olaf College, St.
Peter’s College, Trinity College, University of
Richmond, University of Texas at Arlington,
Washington & Jefferson College, Washington College
and Wells College.
A
collection of essays, “Educating Future Leaders for
the Modern World,” will be discussed at the workshop
and then published. Contributors are: Thomas Cronin,
president emeritus, Whitman College; Richard Ekman,
president, Council of Independent Colleges; Jean
Bethke Elshtain, University of Chicago Divinity
School; Michael Genovese, Loyola Chair of Leadership
Studies, Loyola Marymount University; Elizabeth
Kiss, president, Agnes Scott College; Richard
Morrill, president emeritus of University of
Richmond, Centre College and Salem College;
Elisabeth Muhlenfeld, president, Sweet Briar
College; Ronald Riggio, director, Kravis Leadership
Institute at Claremont McKenna College; and Ken
Ruscio, president, Washington & Lee University.
The discussion that begins at the conference is
expected to continue. Faculty are invited to find
resources, contact, syllabi and course outlines at
www.keck.richmond.edu.
