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FEATURE STORY

Shaping Tomorrow's Leaders Today

by Scott Craig, Manager of Media Relations

Recognizing that today’s college students become tomorrow’s leaders, �Ļ�ӰԺ has long committed to helping students discover and develop their leadership skills, preparing them for a lifetime of leadership and service in every sphere of society. How does the college accomplish this task? In class? On the athletic field? Through student clubs and activities? During internships? What about special programs? And global experiences? Yes! In all these places, �Ļ�ӰԺ students find a growing number of opportunities to develop effective leadership skills and put them to use.

Executive Leadership Course

For 16 years, President Gayle D. Beebe has co-taught an executive leadership course with economics and business professor Rick Ifland. “I went into higher education for clearly defined purposes, including my love for working with students,” he says. “Team-teaching one class a year keeps me in touch with students studying a topic that matters to me. We seek to whet their appetite by introducing them to a body of knowledge about leadership and encouraging them to grow in their understanding and application of it.”

Beebe studied with Peter Drucker and recalls his mentor saying a liberal arts education provides the best preparation for leadership because it teaches students how to reach into any area of human learning to find solutions. Earning a doctorate in philosophy of religion at the same time he completed an MBA with Drucker has inspired Beebe to teach basic principles of leadership to equip students to recognize possibilities they might initially overlook. “I hope they become open to leadership responsibilities and recognize their need to grow in competence and expertise,” he says.

I hope they become open to leadership responsibilities and recognize their need to grow in competence and expertise.”

Recent guest speakers have included Jack Hollis, president of Toyota Motor North America; Janet Garufis, chair and CEO of Montecito Bank & Trust; Mary Spellman, executive director of the Fletcher Jones Foundation; Peter Norman, co- founder and CEO of Bellevue Healthcare; Brant Cryder, president of Yves Saint Laurent North America; Evan Green, managing director of Goldman Sachs Manhattan; and David Lafitte, COO of Deckers Outdoor Corp.

The course teaches students to summarize information in brief overviews, and individual and group projects prepare them for teamwork on the job. “Understanding how to consolidate their thinking helps them become continuous learners who reach for new solutions to entrenched problems to move their organizations or businesses forward,” Beebe says.

Augustinian Scholars Program

Political science professor Jesse Covington began with a thumbnail sketch of an honors program with Beebe in 2015. He led the crafting of a curriculum focused on academic excellence and Christian formation, and �Ļ�ӰԺ launched the Augustinian Scholars in 2016. “We’ve developed and refined the program since it began, and it has grown from the inaugural cohort of 30 scholars to 60 each year with nearly 250 enrolled at any given time.” Covington says. A team of professors teaches the scholars every year.

Students begin with classes that introduce them to the riches of the Christian intellectual tradition, Faith Seeking Understanding and Pilgrim Citizens, which encompass Jesus’s teaching to love God with our minds and love our neighbors as ourselves.

“These first-year classes prepare scholars to steward their academic gifts well and apply them in ways that reflect deep understanding and a commitment to others,” Covington says.

Scholars often recognize how God is shaping their own spiritual formation as they gain appreciation for the richness, diversity and accessibility of great thinkers in the Christian intellectual tradition. “Students realize they can develop intellectual friendships with people such as Augustine of Hippo, Blaise Pascal and Dorothy Sayers that deeply influence their thinking and their lives,” Covington says. “While many students serve in significant positions of leadership during their time here and as graduates, the program consistently emphasizes the priority of faithfulness: following God’s call through faithful living rather than focusing on outcomes or achieve- ments that God ultimately determines.”

“These first-year classes prepare scholars to steward their academic gifts well and apply them in ways that reflect deep understanding and a commitment to others.”

Jesse Covington

President’s Leadership Fellows

This new initiative, which debuted in fall 2024, provides a framework for honing skills and fostering innovation and visionary executive leadership. The program focuses on teaching leadership theory and developing leadership skills through practice. Participants take a one- semester seminar at the beginning of their �Ļ�ӰԺ career to learn effective principles and form habits that lead to lifelong leadership. The college offers the program each fall to selected incoming students who demonstrate academic achievement, have held leadership roles at their school, church or community, seek to lead at �Ļ�ӰԺ, and show great potential.

Irene Neller, vice president for enrollment, marketing and communications, designed the new program, and members of the president’s leadership team join her as teachers. “Each of us has extensive experience in leading, presenting and teaching seminars at conferences and institutes, and we chose topics central to our areas and expertise,” she says. “We’re sharing lessons we’ve learned.”

Students attend seven lectures, interact with each presenter and write papers reflecting what they’ve learned. They earn the President’s Executive Leadership Apprentice Certificate, ready to join a leadership effort in the next semester.

Students appreciated the seminar. “I thoroughly enjoyed learning practical leadership and life skills from �Ļ�ӰԺ’s top executive team,” said Abi Mitchell ’28. “It has been a joy and pleasure to absorb and implement their wisdom in my life. It truly changed my perspective of an effective leader.”

Alison Gambill ’28 noted, “The class has taught me the value of knowing myself — my strengths and weaknesses — and proceeding with authenticity and striving to better myself as a leader.”

“The President’s Leadership Fellows prepares and educates students about the key factors of being a strong, compassionate and bold leader,” Andrew Van Patten ’28 said. “Through the presentation of powerful messages from experienced leaders, the class helps students to understand how to become a great leader.”

President’s Leadership Fellows Topics and Speakers

Gayle D. Beebe, President
The Essence of Effective Leadership

Kimberly Battle-Walters Denu, Provost
Leading Across Differences

Doug Jones, Vice President for Finance
The Role of Leading Finances and Operations

Irene Neller, Vice President for Enrollment, Marketing and Communications
Your Personal Brand and Executive Presence

Steve Porter, Senior Research Fellow and Executive Director of the Martin Institute
The Spiritual and Moral Foundation of the Leader

Carmel Saad, Chief Diversity Officer and Director of the Carol Houston Center for Diversity and Reconciliation
Compassionate Leadership

Reed Sheard, Vice President for College Advancement and Chief Information Officer
Creating High-Performing Teams

A Learning-and-Leading Cycle

Senior Sara Francis ’25, a 2024-25 Global Student Leader, has served as a resident assistant and WCSA vice president and participated in an Emmaus Road summer outreach program. “�Ļ�ӰԺ has taught me that leadership is an extension of Christian faith and that we must learn how to be good followers to be good leaders,” she says.

She describes a continuous learning-and-leading cycle, learning from the �Ļ�ӰԺ community and then applying and practicing her skills in leadership positions.

With Emmaus Road in Lima, Peru, she organized an intimate Bible study for a group physically and mentally exhausted by the end of the first week. “I took the lead,” she says, turning a planned 20-minute scripture reading into 90 minutes of reflection, prayer and praise. “We left that space more empowered in Christ and each other,” she says. “When a few of my peers thanked me for leading, I realized what I’d done. I’d retained what I learned from �Ļ�ӰԺ and applied it to my life. I transitioned from following to leading.”

“�Ļ�ӰԺ has taught me that leadership is an extension of Christian faith and that we must learn how to be good followers to be good leaders.”

Sara Francis ’25

Athletic Leadership at Work

Owen Vander Ark ’25, a Warrior tennis player and senior economics and business major from Kansas City, Kansas, served as the WCSA athletic senator in fall 2023. He appreciates Robert Ruiz, director of athletics, who encouraged him. “He emphasized he was always there to support me and said I could reach out to him with any questions or ideas,” Vander Ark says. “That began a great relationship with Coach Ruiz that propelled me to lead in the best possible ways as athletic senator.”

Vander Ark also served as vice president of the NCAA DII Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and has a leadership role with the WESPYs, an annual sports award show that �Ļ�ӰԺ launches in April 2025. “The proximity to leaders has had the most direct impact on my leadership,” he says. “I met with Coach Ruiz regularly and learned so much through his advice, experience and encouragement. �Ļ�ӰԺ has taught me that learning extends beyond your major or your social circle. I’ve developed my leadership voice by learning from a variety of leaders across campus.” These people include Alex Nizet, assistant vice president of major gifts; Angela D’Amour ’01, dean of student engagement; Jill Heckman ’13, assistant athletic director for operations; and Jacob Norling ’20, sports information assistant.

“�Ļ�ӰԺ has taught me that learning extends beyond your major or your social circle. I’ve developed my leadership voice by learning from a variety of leaders across campus.”

Owen Vander Ark ’25

Learning Leadership Lessons Off Campus

Cat Nguyen ’25, a senior communication studies and political science double major, jumped into student leadership roles her second year and has served as Intercultural Programs business manager, a Global Leadership Center resident assistant and a leader of the Global and International Students Association.

“Much of our training focuses on practical parts of leadership such as event planning, keeping a budget and responding to residents,” she says. “This is helpful, but I found building relationships with other student leaders and residence life/campus life directors to be the most valuable part,” she says.

Nguyen studied with �Ļ�ӰԺ in San Fran- cisco, where she interned at the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, worked on numerous challenging cases and attended rallies to advocate for some of the office’s clients.

“I’ve learned that leaders can occupy different roles,” she says. “Being an advocate, storyteller, builder and weaver makes me an integral part of the social change ecosystem. While I’m building relationships with residents and students of color, I’m working in the same network as our student ministries serving the marginalized in the inner cities. I’ve learned to be a Christian leader by using my gifts to the fullest extent while being a piece of the larger puzzle to carry out God’s vision for the world.”

“I found building relationships with other student leaders and residence life/campus life directors to be the most valuable part.”

Cat Nguyen ’25

Leading Student Leaders

D’Amour helps students find connections betw- een their �Ļ�ӰԺ, beliefs and commitments. “In student leadership, we talk about virtues like honesty, kindness and generosity and how those characteristics mark faithful leaders inside and outside the classroom,” she says.

Each year, D’Amour and her student life team equip more than 100 student leaders in various fields with both training and development. Most of them serve in countless leadership roles throughout their lives.

Research indicates that students who become engaged in both classes and campus activities enjoy the best college experiences. D’Amour emphasizes the importance of students operating with integrity, seeking wholeness and living consistently with their �Ļ�ӰԺ in all arenas.

“We teach skills in key areas such as resolving conflict, leading in a multicultural environment and being resilient,” she says. “Students also gain self-awareness about their unique skills and learn how to work effectively with diverse members of their team.”

�Ļ�ӰԺ Leadership Development Program

Now in its sixth year, this initiative focuses on first-year students who demonstrate leadership potential and a commitment to ongoing learning. “The engaging five-week training focuses on exploring key characteristics of Christian leadership, helping participants clarify their talents and strengths and learn how they can serve God’s purposes,” D’Amour says. “They gain practical skills and confidence to serve as student leaders.” Highly interactive, discussion- based training sessions incorporate interviews students conduct with faithful leaders during the winter break.

A former student body president — now an emergency room doctor — says he had an epiphany as a student leader used to doing everything himself. When heading a team of 10 other students, he realized what great ideas and talent they had. “He learned how to work collaboratively, motivate others and delegate to and trust others,” D’Amour says. “He learned the importance of being a leader and not just an achiever.”

This is a story from the Fall 2024 �Ļ�ӰԺ Magazine

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