Cross roads in Denver

I spent October 24-28 in Denver at the International Leadership Association Conference - my second conference.  It's a great conference - highlights for me were hanging out with my Azusa Pacific University classmates, hearing Edgar Schein, making a presentation with my research team, AND narrowing down a research area and topic for my dissertation.

I think finding the dissertation topic with two members of my dissertation committee, Dr Longman and Dr Hulme, was simply amazing.  My classmate Bruce Primrose and I found a nice pub and spent two hours discussing my topics over beer.  Then we went back to the conference site and met with Karen and Eileen in the conference centre lobby.  An hour later, they helped me narrow down my problem area (from intergenerational differences in leadership  to mid-level staff at career crossroads) and an actual sensible focused question.  Which is still under wraps.

Other exciting adventures in Denver:

1.  President Obama's Motorcade blocked our way from the airport to the conference centre

2.  Bruce and I witnessed a cyclist being struck by a car - Bruce dropped me off to help the cyclist as he took off after the hit-and-run driver.  The cyclist was looked to be OK - paramedics took her in just to be sure. 

3.  SNOW in Denver.  Whaaaaat?

4.  Tattered Cover Bookstore - an hour of blissful shopping, reading, browsing.  Awesome.  No photos, just books.  :)

5.  Mountains.

6.  Denver Art Museum and a fantastic special exhibit of VanGogh art work.  Outstanding.

A great conference experience!


For anyone who is interested - this is the session I participated in:

THE ROLE OF CALLING IN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND EFFECTIVENESS

Description: Three studies examine the nature and role of calling or vocation as it relates to leadership practice and development, specifically in university settings. Together, they offer the opportunity to study a little-researched area thru the lenses of gender, role, and generational differences. Panelists will invite audience discussion on how vocation in leadership may extend to other sectors than higher education, and possibilities for future research.

Women’s Leadership Development in Faith-Based Higher Education: The Role of Calling as a Motivator

Qualitative research involving Women’s Leadership Development Institute participants from faith-based universities has revealed that awareness of (and obedience to) calling is an important component of the leadership journey for participants. A model for women’s leadership development, which includes awareness of calling to leadership as one of three primary motivators, will be presented and discussed.

Karen Longman, Department of Doctoral Higher Education, Azusa Pacific University
Coauthors:Candy O'Connor, Azusa Pacific University; Richard Wikkerink, Redeemer University College