Richmond Home

The Jepson Update

A newsletter for alumni and friends of the Jepson School • Fall 2018

The Jepson Update

A newsletter for alumni and friends of the Jepson School • Fall 2018

The Jepson Update

A newsletter for alumni and friends of the Jepson School • Fall 2018

The Jepson Update

A newsletter for alumni and friends of the Jepson School • Fall 2018

From the Dean

Sandra J. Peart

Later this week, the Jepson School Class of 2021 will receive their acceptance letters. Those letters come with a promise: When our students graduate, they will have knowledge and experience to tackle the difficult problems we currently face. This promise is reflected in our programs, such as the Jepson School leader-in-residence, our teaching and curriculum, and our partnerships with Jepson alumni. It’s at the core of our profile-raising initiative, which seeks to engage all members of the Jepson community.

The number of leadership studies students graduating each year has nearly doubled over the past decade as increasing numbers of students have recognized the value of a Jepson degree. In this newsletter, you’ll read about some of the ways we are adapting to meet this demand, including adding faculty and renovating spaces in Jepson Hall. As we innovate, we reaffirm our commitment to educate students both for and about leadership.

Sincerely,

Sandra J. Peart
Dean, Jepson School of Leadership Studies
University of Richmond

Brunch with the Dean

Brunch is on Jepson during Homecoming Weekend!

Thanks to our amazing Jepson community, the Jepson School surpassed its 2018 Spider Challenge goal, so we’re treating you to brunch during #SpiderHC! Join Dean Sandra Peart and the Jepson School faculty and staff for food and drinks in Jepson Hall on Saturday from 11 a.m. –1 p.m.

Advance registration required.

A Space for Ethics

This semester, we launched a renovation project to create a new space for leadership ethics in Jepson Hall. The space that formerly held the Jepson 120 auditorium is being updated to include a new state-of-the-art classroom, 4 new offices, and a small conference room. The renovated space is anticipated to be open in the Spring 2019 semester.

“At a time when division abounds, this renovation reflects our commitment to empowering students to adjudicate competing moral claims, assume positions of ethical leadership, and live purposeful lives,” says Jepson Dean Sandra J. Peart.

Dr. Marilie Coetsee

Jepson welcomes ethicist Marilie Coetsee

Dr. Marilie Coetsee joined the Jepson School as assistant professor of leadership studies this fall. She received her doctorate in philosophy from Rutgers University and master's degrees in religious studies and philosophy from Rutgers and Stanford respectively. She currently teaches Leadership Ethics at Jepson.

“I hope that students will leave the course not just with a theoretical understanding of the material, but also with practical wisdom about how to approach complex, real-world ethical problems and with the skills to deliberate effectively with others about those problems,” said Coetsee.

Read our Q&A with Dr. Coetsee

Ken Ruscio to return to Jepson as senior distinguished lecturer

Dr. Ken Ruscio, president emeritus of Washington & Lee University and a former Jepson School dean, will return to the Jepson School beginning in spring 2019 as senior distinguished lecturer. Ruscio, who will complete his presidency of the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges in December, served as dean of the Jepson School from 2002–2006 before becoming president of W&L from 2006–2016. At Jepson he'll teach special topics courses on democracy and political leadership.

“Given the current condition of democracy, it's important that students understand our political system, its principles, and how democratic theory has evolved throughout history,” said Ruscio. “As future leaders, students must begin to consider an ongoing dilemma for American democracy. What is the role of leaders in a democracy and how do we both empower and constrain them?”

Read the press release

Dr. Ken Ruscio

Jepson Internship Feature Stories

Chelsea Eareckson, '19
Ever since her childhood on the beaches of the Jersey shore, Chelsea Eareckson, ’19, has loved the ocean. Today, as climate change threatens the fragile balance of many of the ocean’s ecosystems, Eareckson, a double major in leadership studies and biology, is on a mission to help restore the ocean and promote conservation.
Benedict Roemer, '19
Benedict Roemer, ’19, is passionate about affecting social change. So when the opportunity to raise awareness for issues like mass incarceration and the racial wealth gap as an intern at Campaign for Youth Justice opened up, Roemer went for it.
Sabrina Escobar Miranda, '19
Over the summer, Escobar Miranda authored more than 30 bylined stories during her Jepson Internship at the New York-based newspaper Newsday, and even had a story picked up by the Associated Press.
Carl Salinger, '19
Over the course of his summer internship, Salinger was able to see his work become reality.
Katherine Patetta, '19
Katherine Patetta, ’19, hadn’t heard of The Broad when she first started thinking about her Jepson Internship. But when she saw the listing on SpiderConnect and researched their website, she loved the Richmond-based start-up’s mission.
Noah Walker, '19
When you think about the qualities that are important for scientists to possess, leadership might not come to mind. University of Richmond senior Noah Walker, ’19, thinks this is a mistake. This summer, Walker, a Science Leadership Scholar, explored how leadership is a driving force in scientific developments.
Emily Stubblefield, '19
Over the past summer, Jepson senior Emily Stubblefield’s internship at the Washington, D.C.-based law firm Jezic & Moyes brought her up close to the immigration debate, which has captivated public attention and media coverage in the United States and Europe in recent months.
Cassidy Perkinson, '19
On the surface, tutoring rising first graders in Richmond, Va., might seem a world apart from teaching adult English language-learners in Milan, Italy. But Cassidy Perkinson, ’19, who spent her summer interning with Youth Life Foundation in Richmond, believes that the two have more in common than you might think.
Chase Williams, '19
Chase Williams, ’19, knew he wanted to work at Salesforce before he met Jepson alumnus Scott Barghaan, ’00, vice president of strategic accounts at Salesforce, at the Jepson EDGE Institute. But that conversation gave Williams a foot in the door for a summer internship at the customer relations management platform, which would lead to a job offer.
Emme Wells, '19
Political science and leadership studies double major Emme Wells, '19, returned to her roots in Ridgeland, Mississippi, to spend time with her family and learn more about her home through a Jepson Internship at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
George Hall, '19
When it came time to choose a summer internship, George Hall, ’19, approached opportunities with one primary goal: to learn as much as possible. His determination landed Hall at the private equity firm Graham Partners, which stresses innovation and entrepreneurism to deliver value.
New York City Alumni Event
Stay in touch

Keep up-to-date Send us the latest news about your promotion, new job, relocation, honors, family, or educational advancement, and connect with the Jepson School on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Resources

School History

Mission & Purpose

Jepson Newsletter

Open Faculty Positions

Faculty in the News

Contact Us

Jepson School of Leadership Studies
221 Richmond Way
University of Richmond, VA 23173

General Information:

Phone: (804) 289-8008
Fax: (804) 287-6062
Email: jepson@richmond.edu