June 2006

Keck Initiative Launches Pilot Courses to Positive Reviews


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.