You reached this page through the archive. Click here to return to the archive.

Note: This article is over a year old and information contained in it may no longer be accurate. Please use the contact information in the lower-left corner to verify any information in this article.

President Thomforde announces leadership program for faculty

By Amy Gage
September 12, 2005

St. Olaf is launching a developmental program for current and potential leaders at the college that is open both to faculty and staff members. Modeled after a successful program at the University of Minnesota, the President's Leadership Experience Program will kick off in October with the enthusiastic support of President Christopher Thomforde.

"One of my goals as president is to nurture and sustain the many wonderful people working at St. Olaf," says Thomforde, who has served at St. Olaf since January 2001. "An effective way to do that is through recognition and encouragement of emerging leaders."

The ideal candidates for the program will have worked at the college at least a year, demonstrated a passion for St. Olaf and shown a willingness to take initiative and risks. Emerging leaders may be current supervisors or people who show potential for leadership by their ability to influence others' behavior and attitudes, to work collaboratively and to improve things around them, said Thomforde in a note sent to the St. Olaf community Sept. 6.

Supervisors and members of the president's cabinet will nominate candidates for the program. Up to 15 participants will be selected.

The President's Leadership Experience Program will have three components: development of communication and leadership skills, education about the entire 800-employee campus and work on specific projects that will benefit the college. Although mentoring will not be a formal part of the program this year, organizers expect that informal relationships will develop among participants in the program.

"Participants will get a whole new perspective of the challenges facing the college," says Assistant Director of Human Resources Pat O'Brien who came to St. Olaf from Honeywell Corp., where she helped design a succession-planning leadership program and a formal mentoring program.

O'Brien helped design the St. Olaf program as well, along with Dean of Community Life & Diversity Eida Berrio and Director of Advancement Services Julie Anderson. "The program will break down the departmental silos," she says. "We hope that people will keep the relationships they build as they move forward and deal with other issues."

Among the strategic challenges that participants will address in the nine-month program are student disability services, vendor review and analysis for the campus, and a proposed collaboration with Carleton College to introduce a one-card system for students and employees.

Alumni could play a special role, Thomforde says, as mentors and consultants for the group. Interested alumni should contact the president by phone (507-646-3000) or via e-mail: president@stolaf.edu.

Faculty and staff members who are interested in participating should speak to their supervisors, O'Brien says.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.