Published by Communications and Public Affairs (519) 824-4120, Ext. 56982 or 53338
News Release
June 24, 2003
U of G to open leadership centre
The University of Guelph announced today it will open the Centre for Studies in Leadership, a facility that will act as the core of the university's interdisciplinary leadership programs.
Alun Joseph, dean of the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences, made the announcement at the launch of the third annual leadership conference, The Learning of Leadership.
"The study of leadership, in terms of teaching and research, is one of Guelph's great strengths," said Joseph. "Establishing the Centre for Studies in Leadership will help faculty of different fields combine their strengths to deliver top educational programming and research."
The new centre, which will open in September, will be housed in the Macdonald Institute building where it will focus on undertaking and promoting research on leadership issues relevant to the public, private and non-profit sectors, as well as developing educational programs in the leadership area, and engaging in a variety of community outreach and promotional activities.
"My goal is that the centre will help people associate Guelph with a place where leadership is an important area of study and is in the forefront of research activities," said Brian Earn, director of the Centre of Studies in Leadership. "Guelph's faculty and graduate students are already conducting research and sharing their expertise in this area and we want to use the centre to make the world aware of our leadership skills and knowledge."
Earn teaches industrial organizational psychology and has focused his research on leadership in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. In addition to his teaching and research responsibilities, he has held administrative positions at the university, including acting chair of the psychology department.
John Walsh, associate dean of the Faculty of Management, said, "Leadership is an issue that spans public, private and not-for-profit organizations. It's Brian's diversity of research and scholastic experience in leadership studies that make him particularly well qualified to lead this exciting initiative at University of Guelph."
U of G has been growing in the area of leadership studies. The first graduates of the continuing education Diploma in Leadership were recognized this month, an undergraduate leadership certificate and an MA in Leadership Studies program were both approved recently, and the Canadian Forces Leadership Institute has awarded faculty research contracts totaling some $140,000. Other existing leadership initiatives include the Student Leadership program and several well established programs in rural leadership.
The new centre will be "a one-stop-shopping centre for what goes on in leadership at the university," said Earn. "Part of our mandate is also to look for new sources of funding and to encourage scholarly research on leadership at Guelph." The centre will invite visiting scholars to address leadership issues, hold conferences and roundtables, and distribute information on leadership through a scholarly journal, newsletters, and electronic media.
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt, (519) 824-4120, Ext. 53338, or Rachelle Cooper, (519) 824-4120, Ext. 56982.
