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June 2006
The Jepson faculty is reaching out to faculty and
students of other disciplines in innovative ways, thanks to the Keck
Initiative. Spearheaded by the Jepson School in collaboration with
Claremont McKenna College and Loyola Marymount University, the
initiative aims to support the development of interdisciplinary
undergraduate courses that integrate leadership themes in the
liberal arts.
Students gave high marks to two pilot courses offered
in the spring semester at the University of Richmond: "Psychology and
Leadership," co-taught by
Crystal Hoyt, assistant professor of
leadership studies, and
Scott Allison, professor of psychology, and
"Ethics and Economics," co-taught by
Douglas Hicks, associate professor
of leadership studies and religion, and
Jonathan Wight, associate
professor of economics and international studies.
In particular, many students remarked favorably on
the courses’ team-teaching format and dual perspectives derived from
two areas of study. "Psychology and Leadership" attracted students of
art, biology, chemistry, English, history, music, philosophy,
psychology, sociology and leadership studies. In "Ethics and Economics,"
the class discussions and the group project brought both fields of
study into perspective, students said.
Two Jepson students received Keck Fellowships to
conduct research this summer stemming from the new courses. Ryan Kefer, ’06, is researching the motivations and tools utilized to support the
United Nations movement to end global poverty. Stefanie Simon, ’07, is
researching the relatively small number of women in top leadership
positions as compared to the total number of women in the workforce.
Additional information about the student and faculty
fellows, course offerings and the 2006 Keck Summer Workshop (June
11-13) appears on the Keck Initiative Web site. The Web site aims to
foster collaboration among the faculty fellows and to serve as a
resource for other colleges and universities interested in the
intersection of leadership studies and the liberal arts. |