Contact: Maridith Geuder
STARKVILLE, Miss.--A Mississippi State leadership program launched by university President Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong earlier this year is expanding its scope and programs to provide what he terms as a "leadership continuum."
Through a highly competitive process, an inaugural group of 31 second- and third-year students recently were selected as the initial Fellows in the university's Sonny Montgomery Chapter of the Appalachian Leadership Honors Program. They will participate in activities that develop communication, strategic planning, project management, and technical skills needed for leadership roles.
"In addition, we'll be providing mentoring and seminar opportunities that focus on ethics, motivation and other character skills important to leaders," Foglesong explained. "We are committed to developing a comprehensive view of education that provides outstanding academics and lifetime leadership skills."
MSU's program is part of a regional collaboration of colleges and universities that includes Marshall University in West Virginia. Two other Mississippi universities and two additional West Virginia universities will join in 2007.
Believing that leadership must extend from the cradle to the chief executive officer's suite, Foglesong said the MSU program this summer is adding components to emphasize leadership from high school forward.
Among the newest, a "Young Guns" summer leadership camp is being rolled out for 200 rising high school seniors, including participants from the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
"We intentionally want this program to reflect the diversity of Mississippi and to engage students in activities that develop a sense of civic responsibility and cultural awareness," Foglesong said.
Cade Smith, who directs MSU's leadership honors program, said a series of summer camps will enroll 50 students each.
"We'll have a week of structured activities that include team-building exercises, a real-life project relevant to a Mississippi community and individual skills assessments," Smith said.
He said each group will produce a master plan to address a specific community issue. "We will give these 'young guns' an opportunity to explore who they are, as well as to define and test the concept of leadership in situations relevant to their lives," he explained.
For "Young Guns" participants who choose to enroll at MSU, the university this fall will introduce a "Day One" program that coincides with the first day of classes.
Initially, "Day One" activities will include an hourlong leadership forum, along with service learning and mentoring.
Smith said the program will expand in 2008 to include a first-semester academic course such as communication, public speaking, psychology, or another relating to leadership development. Participating students also will share common residence halls and be eligible to compete for selection as Fellows in the Appalachian Leadership Honors Program.
Now under development, separate ALHP components will focus on graduate students, student athletes and international students.
"We want to make leadership education a defining principle of Mississippi State and to provide a breadth of opportunities for all of our students," Foglesong said.
He added that the university is moving ahead with development of an academic minor in leadership that would provide an academic foundation linking all of the on-campus programs.
"I believe that academic institutions like Mississippi State should, and must, become the driving forces for developing leadership potential," the chief executive said. He emphasized, however, that his vision does not begin and end with the university experience.
"Higher education has a responsibility to create innovative ways to cross a continuum that starts with the young and is engaged with citizens throughout their lives," Foglesong said.
"Having those skills is good for the individual, and it's ultimately good for us all."
For more information about the Sonny Montgomery Chapter of the Appalachian Leadership Honors Program, visit http://www.alhp.msstate.edu/.