Leadership is a topic of conversation in business,
politics, and education. At Kennesaw State University, the topic of leadership is the focus of the Siegel Institute for Leadership, Ethics, and Character, named for Dr. Betty Siegel, former President of Kennesaw State University. “Most graduate programs are focused on clinical skills, and softer skills are being short-changed,” said Institute Executive Director Dr. Linda Johnston. Founded in 2000 as the Siegel Center, the program was elevated to a center of study, learning, and discourse in 2005. The Institute offers diverse courses on a graduate level as well as unique research opportunities for student Dr. Linda Johnston, Executive Director and faculty collaboration. The Siegel Institute is known throughout the world for posing thought-provoking questions in regards to the role of ethics within the broader scope of leadership. The Institute provides KSU students with an exceptional chance to explore those questions more deeply. Further, the Institute supports KSU’s commitment to prepare ethical leaders who can advance strong leadership qualities in the workplace and promote ethics and direction every day. In addition, the certificate program is a unique add-on to any graduate degree program offered at KSU that benefits students who plan to serve in a leadership capacity in their professional careers beyond KSU. The Institute’s message and mission resonates with students. Over 60 students from a variety of disciplines are currently enrolled in the Institute. The Institute supervises directed studies for students in a variety of disciplines and offers unique courses like a course in Bioethics entitled “The Ethics of Surviving the Zombie Apocolypse”. This course offers an in-depth look at what makes leadership and ethics so important in an ever-changing world. In fact, the Bioethics course was so popular, Johnston has agreed to teach the course at the undergraduate level in a Left to right: Jamie Youngs, Gail Carson, Crystal Money, Joann Trodahl, future semester. Johnston, Lindsay Saripkin
Graduate student Uldeen Lee knows first-hand the benefits of completing the Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Ethics. Lee, who is currently working toward her Master of Science in Information Systems decided to add the certificate because, as a leader, having an ethical approach makes one more effective in a leadership position. “The corporate culture today is very ‘go with the flow,’” Lee said. “This program showed me I can help change that. Ethics effect a much wider population than our corporate culture would have us believe. It affects society at large as well as each office individually.” The Institute also promotes societal values missing in today’s busy world. ”When you’re looking to build an ethical culture, you need to consider all parameters of what makes people feel safe and valued.” said Johnston. To help promote this missing value, the Institute hosts the annual Phenomenal Women’s Conference every March, which invites women in both the KSU and Greater Atlanta communities to, “ …come together to exchange ideas about leadership, motivation and progress in the world,” according to the Institute’s website. The Conference is, Johnston according to Johnston “purposefully small” and offers events and discussions surrounding topics such as female bullying, branding, and finding an authentic sense of self. This year’s conference’s theme of “Believe, Begin, Become” will be held on March 21, 2014. Overall, the Institute hopes to build on the successes and growth of the past several years. The Center was born from a desire of KSU President Emeritus Dr. Betty Siegel to enhance the student experience with proving tools for leadership within academic success, and the Institute has done just that---and more. Encouraging students to think outside the box, utilize both real world-experience and textbook learning, and having the Institute as, what Johnston describes as a, “vibrant, engaging, comforting, and welcoming place for students” will help accomplish that goal sooner rather than later. The Siegel Institute of Leadership, Ethics and Character can be reached by visiting http://www.kennesaw.edu/siegelinstitute/ or by calling Dr. Johnston at (678) 797-2000. Left to right: Trodahl, Patsy Driver, Virginia Slaton
Article written by Casey Hampton and Lynsey Nejman