THE LEADERSHIP LINK - WKU · Page 2 The Leadership Link The Leadership of the Normandy Invasion July 9th-August 10th ... The Leadership Experience -Richard Daft The Lion King (DVD)

Mexico City hosted the

second Congress of the

Americas conference this

year where Leadership Cer-

tificate student Brentni Hen-

derson, along with CLE Di-

rector, Dr. Cecile Garmon,

and Program Coordinator,

Cindy Ehresman presented a

paper entitled Culture, Com-

munication, Ethics, and

Women’s Political Leadership.

The focus of this year‟s con-

ference was Uniting the

Americas: Exploring Media

Convergence, Public Communi-

cation, and Intercultural Com-

munication.

(Continued on page 6)

A Cultural Adventure: Leadership Student Presents in Mexico City

September/October 2008 Volume 1, Issue 5

TTTHEHEHE LLLEADERSHIPEADERSHIPEADERSHIP LLLINKINKINK

Inside this issue:

Professor

Profile

1

Student

Research

1

Study

Leadership

Abroad

2-3

Cultural Night

Practicum 4

Leadership

Library 5

Welcome

New Students

5

About the

CLE

7

Professor Profile: Dr. Nevil Speer

Dr. Nevil Speer is

greatly involved with Leader-

ship Studies and the Center

for Leadership Excellence

(CLE); he regularly teaches

LEAD 500, serves on a num-

ber of leadership practicum

committees, and is an active

member of the steering com-

mittee.

He got involved with

WKU‟s Leadership Studies

program after overseeing the

“Collegiate Livestock Leaders

Institute.” During that time

Leadership Studies was be-

ginning at WKU and Dr.

Speer says, “it seemed like an

inherent fit to jump in and try

to contribute in a meaningful

way.” “Nothing happens in a

leadership vacuum. Leadership

impacts every aspect of our life

no matter how mundane or

routine it might seem. Regard-

less of where you go or what

you do, leadership

(or lack thereof) is influencing

that experience. So, in my opin-

ion, studying leadership is es-

sential!”

His favorite aspect of

working with the program

are his interactions with stu-

dents, as they reach that

„aha!‟ moment with ideas

relative to leadership.

Dr. Speer earned a B.S.

with honors, a M.S., and a

Ph.D. at Colorado State Uni-

versity, along with an MBA

here at WKU. He is a huge

fan of Jim Collins, the

author of Good to Great

and, his personal favor-

ite, Built to Last..

At a recent church

service he was asked

to introduce himself to

someone he did not

know and tell them

who the most impor-

tant person in his life

was. “That was an easy

assignment, as the two

most important people

are my wife, Sandra, and my

daughter, Lydia Grace.”

In addition to his work

with the CLE, Dr. Speer is a

professor in the Agriculture

department and directs the

Master of Arts in Administra-

tive Dynamics program.

Dr. Nevil Speer

Outside the Basilica de Guadalupe

Summer Study Abroad : An Invasion into History

The class will also take sev-

eral field trips, experiencing

the American Cemetery, the

World War II memorial, and

the beaches and bunkers of

Normandy. The city of London

offers visits to the Imperial

War Museum, Churchill‟s War

Bunker and other cultural

sites. Program costs are $5695,

including round-trip transpor-

tation from designated depar-

ture cities. (For participants

over the age of 26, there is also a $100 BritRail surcharge.)

The program costs provide

participants with health insur-

ance, round-trip transporta-

tion and airport transfers, a

BritRail pass for travel within

Britain, a London City Tour,

London Travelcards for 28

days‟ use on the London Un-

derground and bus system,

accommodations, daily break-

fast, and some additional

meals. Tuition (not included in

the program costs) is deter-

mined by the student‟s home

institution. Participants should

plan to bring a minimum of

$1100 for other meals,

entrance fees, additional

transportation costs, and

personal spending. There is

also a small fee for trips to

Normandy and staging areas

in Southeast England. The application deadline is

February 27, 2009. To find

out more information about

The Leadership of the Nor-

mandy Invasion, contact the

WKU Study Abroad Office at

the address below, or Mr.

John Baker at

[email protected]

Cooperative Center for

Study Abroad

FH 301 Northern

Kentucky University

Highland Heights, KY 41099 Phone 859-572-6512 or

800-319-6015 Fax 859-572-6650;

[email protected]

Have you ever imag-

ined studying history di-

rectly where it took

place? How would you

like to spend one month of

your summer in a foreign

country experiencing an in-

ternational culture and life-

style? You can achieve these

goals by taking advantage of

the countless opportunities

to study abroad, such as

spending a summer in Lon-

don through the Coopera-

tive Center for Study

Abroad (CCSA). WKU

Leadership Studies professor

John Baker will teach a

course entitled The Leader-

ship of the Normandy Invasion.

His course will examine the

strategic, operational and

tactical leadership of Opera-

tion Overlord, analyzing the

leadership of the most

prominent figures involved

with the Normandy invasion, such as Winston Churchill,

Adolf Hitler, General Eisen-

hower and General Patton.

Page 2 The Leadership Link

The Leadership of the

Normandy Invasion July 9th-August 10th

Page 3 Volume 1, Issue 5

Dr. Linda Gonzales‟ Lead 200 class in Dublin

Leadership Student Lauren McGee studying abroad in Paris

Cliffs Of Mohr-Ireland

Santorini, Greece

Leadership Student Jamie Jackson in Athens, Greece

Leadership Students Across the Globe

With a desire to positively

influence WKU‟s true extent of

international reach and the

multicultural atmosphere of

campus, Supardi Tjhin devel-

oped a leadership practicum to

bring students together to ex-

perience the beliefs and values

of various cultures. Through

the course of a semester, he

researched, organized, planned,

and executed this event as his

final portion of the Leadership

Certificate program. Supardi is

an international student from

Indonesia, so he was able to

personally relate his own experiences

here at WKU to the goals of his pro-

ject.

He began by researching theories

that created a clear understanding of

the connection between diversity and

culture. In comparing this connection

to the reality of diversity today, Su-

pardi could then apply theories and

methods of leadership to analyze the

deeper layers of culture, such as basic

assumptions, beliefs, values, and

norms. He based much of his

own leadership for this project

on Geert Hofstede‟s theories,

to learn how to successfully

lead people who were different

from him. “I think the theories

helped me a lot in understand-

ing how I should interact and

communicate with other peo-

ple who are different from

me.” He also emphasized the

importance of a leader‟s

Sharing and Socializing Cultural Night A Leadership Practicum


individual responsibility

to cover the tasks of

moderator, event organ-

izer, decorations, exter-

nal coordinator, and

internal coordinator.

There were three group

meetings held in which

the details of the event

were discussed and

planned

The Sharing and

Socializing Cultural Night

was officially held earlier

this semester in August.

Each guest was wel-

comed with a brochure

giving an overview of the

idea of cultural interaction. The pres-

entation also raised three questions

specifically referring to the multicul-

tural atmosphere at WKU, to gain a

sense of how international students

feel about the University‟s vision of

international reach and their own

impact on the multicultural atmos-

phere. The evening concluded with a

nice dinner.

In a self-evaluation, Supardi re-

flected on his leadership strengths and

weaknesses. The members of

his volunteer group felt he was

a supportive leader who treats

others equally and respectfully.

But he feels he could still im-

prove on his relations with

subordinates and on encourag-

ing their performance. Overall,

the event was a great success

and the result of strong team-

work. And the key to its suc-

cess? Supardi would say the

leader‟s vision and relationship

with his subordinates.

Supardi Tjhin hosting a cultural night through a

discussion of cultures, values and beliefs

cultural intelligence to be able to rec-

ognize feelings and behaviors in unfa-

miliar cultural situations.

After outlining the theoretical

steps of his practicum, it was time to

begin the actual planning stages of the

cultural night. So Supardi formed a

group of international volunteers

whom he would lead in the develop-

ment of the social event.

Each group member held an

Participants also enjoyed dinner together.

Page 5 Volume 1, Issue 5

Women and Men in Manage-

ment

-Powell/Graves

The Leadership Experience

-Richard Daft

The Lion King (DVD)

Leadership Theory and Prac-

tice, Fourth Edition

-Peter Northouse

Strengths Finder 2.0

-Tom Rath

Launching a Leadership

Revolution

-Brady/Woodward

The Life of Lincoln (DVD)

A Look at What’s New in the Leadership Library

COME BY

THE

LEADERSHIP

CENTER

AND

“CHECK OUT”

THE BOOKS IN

OUR

LEADERSHIP

LIBRARY

Welcome New Students! Amanda Belcher Lesley Greenwell Melanie Ramsey

Kathy Brooks Jei-Ying Huang Jonathan Randolph

Tyler Burysek Kyle Jenisch Evan Rodgers

Dara Carver Scott Jones Sherry Sebastian

Michael Catlett Nathan Kinnison Emily Teegarden

Kayla Clausen Ethan Millspaugh Shana Wilson

Adam Drummond Jonathan Pace Brooke Winebrenner

Patricio Escobar Claire Priddy Talitha Winquist

2008

Outstanding

Student

Leader

Banquet

Lincoln’s

Legacy Of

Leadership

Monday,

Nov. 10th

Volume 1, Issue 5 Page 5


A Cultural Adventure: Leadership Student Presents in Mexico City (Continued from Page 1)

The conference was a great

opportunity for Brentni to present

her research on women‟s leader-

ship, and to hear of other intrigu-

ing research endeavors being un-

dertaken in many related fields.

But this was also an exciting

chance to experience a new and

different way of life. She was able

to visit the pyramids and ruins of

the Teotihuacan, a peaceful civili-

zation numbering more than

100,000 who suddenly disappeared

in 700 AD without leaving behind

any trace of where they were go-

ing. The ruins are the only help

that give an idea of the lost civiliza-

tion‟s lifestyle and survival habits. She also visited the National

Palace where celebrated murals of

Diego Rivera are located, the

The people were very public with

displays of affection, as both men

and women greeted one another

with hugs and kisses on the

cheeks. She also observed multiple

protests during the trip. One was

a teacher‟s union strike that had

been going on for many months,

and another, against a local sena-

tor, had reportedly been at that

location for several years. Brentni

spoke of how she “noticed that the

people do not enjoy as much freedom

as we do. Yet, in some areas I feel

that we are not as free to express

ourselves.”

This adventure proved to be

full of countless experiences and

memories, and gave Brentni a new

outlook on communication across

cultures and her life back here in

the states. “I feel privileged to have

been able to attend this conference

and learn about culture and commu-

nication from another perspective.”

National Museum

of Anthropology

in historic

Chapultepec Park,

cathedrals and

shrines dedicated

to the Virgin of

Guadalupe, and

the Technológico

De Monterrey

campus.

“While atop one of

the smaller ruins, I

felt so insignificant. It

was a cultural experi-

ence that awakened a new perspec-

tive inside of me. For perhaps the

first time, I realized that we are not

alone, that many have walked this

earth before us, and that many cul-

tures exist that are different from

our own.”

One of

Brentni‟s favor-

ite aspects of

the trip, along-

side of the

privilege of co-

presenting at

the conference, was the culture

shock of being outside the United

States. She quickly noticed that

beverages were not as cold.

“It was a wonderful cultural experience

that opened my eyes regarding American

culture and how we differ from societies

throughout the world.”

Brentni Henderson, Dr. Cecile Garmon, Cindy Ehresman at

Teotihuacan Archaeological Park

Portion of Diego Rivera mural at the Palacio Nacional

1906 College Heights Blvd.

# 11067

Bowling Green, KY

42101-1067

Phone: 270-745-8973

Fax: 270-745-5150

lead.stud @wku.edu

WKU‟s Center for Leadership Excellence is dedicated to the development

and celebration of leaders. The Center focuses on three primary target activity

areas: education, training, and research and development. Through these three

areas, the Center strives to complement and enhance existing leadership initia-

tives and to offer new avenues of leadership programming through providing

materials, research, and assistance in teaching, measuring effectiveness, develop-

ing a leadership data base, and working with other units to provide avenues for

student engagement. The mission of Western Kentucky University‟s Center for Leadership Excel-

lence is to enhance existing leadership programs, and to expand leadership edu-

cation, training, and development for the University and its constituent groups.

The Center envisions a future in which it is known regionally and recognized

nationally for providing access to programs where

students and other citizens can learn to engage more

effectively in society. The Center will develop individ-

ual and group potential to improve the quality of life

in the University‟s target mission area.

WESTERN

KENTUCKY

UNIVERSITY

CENTER FOR

LEADERSHIP

EXCELLENCE

We are interested in how the completion of the

Leadership Certificate benefited you, your new

positions, accomplishments, life changes or any

other information that you would like to submit.

Submission of your information acknowledges

your permission to post this information in our

newsletter or on our website. Photos submitted

must include the name(s) of all pictured and per-

mission to publish.

Please let us know where you are, what you are

doing, and how leadership fits into your life elec-

tronically to: [email protected] or by mail to:

Center for Leadership Excellence

Western Kentucky University

1906 College Heights Blvd. #11067

Bowling Green, KY 42101-1067

Contact Us:

Cecile Garmon, Ph.D. Director

[email protected]

(270) 745-8973

Cindy Ehresman Program Coordinator

[email protected]

(270) 745-5137

John Baker Education Coordinator

[email protected]

(270) 745-5149

Linda Brumit Office Associate

[email protected]

(270) 745-8973

Brentni Henderson Graduate Assistant

[email protected]

Kaci Grant Graduate Assistant

[email protected]

Li Zhac

Graduate Assistant

[email protected]

Brittany Kittleman Student Worker

[email protected]

Claire Priddy Student Worker

[email protected]

Stay In Touch Alumni !

The Center for Leadership Excellence Page 7

We’re On The Web!

www.wku.edu/leadership

mailto:[email protected]

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