‘If You Want to Lead, You Need to Serve’

Fifty-three chapter advisors and college administrators are now certified to teach Phi Theta Kappa’s Leadership Development Studies curriculum on their campuses. They were certified at seminars held during the summer.

“The ability to interact with a diversity of participants from different backgrounds and perspectives allows you to see different teaching techniques and styles that you wouldn’t otherwise experience,” said Dr. John Downey, President of Blue Ridge Community College in Virginia, who attended the seminar in Atlanta, Georgia.

“The content of the course is so rich in that it’s getting participants to think about not only their own leadership philosophies but also the leadership philosophies of others.”
Downey’s predecessor at Blue Ridge was certified in the Leadership Development program, and the two team-taught a course. Getting certified has been a goal of Downey’s for several years, and he ultimately hopes to develop a President’s Leadership Academy for his students.
Downey said the environment at Blue Ridge is built around servant leadership and that people are given opportunities to lead at all levels. He has been with the college since 1992 and worked his way up through the years.
“My predecessor always said that if you want to lead, you need to find opportunities to serve,” he said.
Phi Theta Kappa’s Leadership Development Studies program uses great leaders portrayed in books, films and history to guide students through the development of their own leadership philosophies. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation has recognized the program as one of only eight exemplary leadership development programs in higher education.
“I’ve seen how Phi Theta Kappa has enriched the lives of so many people, especially if they participate,” Downey said. “I know if Phi Theta Kappa runs it, it must be good. I feel privileged to have been a part of it.”
Three certification seminars were held in July. The 2016 certified faculty members are:
July 14-17
Cal-Poly Pomona University’s Kellogg West Conference Center
Pomona, California
Larry Adams, Amarillo College, Texas
Melinda Bullen, Mt. Hood Community College, Oregon
Sima Dabir, Western Iowa Tech Community College, Iowa
Linda Duffy, Western Technical College, Wisconsin
Donna Gillespie, College of DuPage, Illinois
Patricia Hall, Cañada College, California
Dr. Aldena Harris, Lorain County Community College, Ohio
Samantha Hines, Missoula College, Montana
Brandi Howard, Laney College, California
Malory Klocke, Iowa Western Community College, Iowa
Michelle Pecheck, Long Beach City College, California
Beth Sammons, Mt. Hood Community College, Oregon
Richard Stroobant, SAIT Polytechnic, Alberta, Canada
Marion Synnott, SAIT Polytechnic, Alberta, Canada
Kirk Young, Jamestown Community College, New York
July 21-24
The Washington University Charles Knight Executive Education and Conference Center Hotel
St. Louis, Missouri
Adrienne Barkley Griffin, John A. Logan College, Illinois
Jennifer Corder, Hill College, Texas
Caryl Gibbs, Rose State College, Oklahoma
Angie Goldszmidt, Bergen Community College, New Jersey
Dr. Nicole Grose, Collin College, Texas
Ashley Hall, Black River Technical College, Arkansas
Kamar Hamilton, Lansing Community College, Michigan
Robert Knight, St. Louis Community College, Missouri
Kathy Kurosky, Ivy Tech Community College, Indiana
Mary Linder, Grayson College, Texas
Dr. Jamie Mahlberg, Rochester Community and Technical College, Minnesota
Lorie Maltby, Henderson Community College, Kentucky
Anna Page, Johnson County Community College, Kansas
Dr. Jody Peterson, Centralia College, Washington
Morgan Ricks, Northeast Mississippi Community College, Mississippi
Dr. Brigham Scallion, Dyersburg State Community College, Tennessee
Emily Washburn, Coffeyville Community College, Kansas
Benjamin Williams, Community College of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Jim Williamson, Hill College, Texas
July 28-31
Emory University’s Conference Center Hotel
Atlanta, Georgia
Margaret Bell, Hinds Community College, Mississippi
Jenny Bowers, Itawamba Community College, Mississippi
Amber Carey, Pensacola State College, Florida
Dr. John Downey, Blue Ridge Community College, Virginia
Dan Flores, Houston Community College, Texas
Teri Fuller, Waubonsee Community College, Illinois
Leroy Gibson, Florence-Darlington Technical College, South Carolina
Ronald Gray, Tidewater Community College, Virginia
Mamie Harris, Florence-Darlington Technical College, South Carolina
Kathryn Hix, Greenville Technical College, South Carolina
Jay Humphries, Itawamba Community College, Mississippi
Ira Lindsay Kinard, Itawamba Community College, Mississippi
Bobbi Lee, Greenville Technical College, South Carolina
Michael McGinnis, Lansing Community College, Michigan
Jessica Petersen, Pensacola State College, Florida
Joy Rhoads, Hinds Community College, Mississippi
James Rowland, Graduate Student, Florida
Deanne Schlanger, Houston Community College, Texas
Dr. Rebecca Tate, Lone Star College, Texas
To learn more about the Leadership Instructor Certification Seminars, check out this first-person blog post by Dr. Aldena Harris, who attended the seminar in Pomona, California.
Dates and locations for the 2017 Leadership Faculty Certification Seminars will be announced soon.