The Leadership Communication doctoral program at Kansas State University proudly announces its fall 2023 graduate. Lindsey Dreiling, Ph.D., completed her doctorate in leadership communication, an interdisciplinary program with faculty from the Department of Communications and Agricultural Education, the Department of Communication Studies, the College of Education, the Staley School of Leadership and the A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication.
As Kansas State University puts forward its strategic plan with emphasis on applied learning, how can our faculty prepare to engage with community and create stronger, efficient, mutually-beneficial relationships that enhance the student experience and fulfill a community need? One way is through service-learning.
In spring 2023, the Staley School of Leadership welcomedLori Kniffin, former K-State instructor, to campus for a guest lecture on engaged learning experiences. Here, we asked Lori to reflect on her personal experiences a little more in depth, and share more examples of service-learning.
This is the third blog in a series about service-learning, its origins, and how to incorporate service-learning into classrooms and programs. Read more posts from this series:What is service-learning?
Service-learning professional organizations and journals
Service-learning and civic engagement (SLCE) formed as a movement in American higher education starting in the 1980s. For a quick synopsis of how the movement evolved, see Chapter 3: A Brief History of a Movement in Post et al., 2016. Significant developments included the establishment of key associations and journals focused primarily on SLCE. In this blog, I highlight five associations (two of which K-State is a member institution) and five journals (all open-access). It is likely that even if you do SLCE work as a faculty member, administrator, student, or community member, you have another primary field of study and practice. These associations and journals provide a dedicated space to learn, collaborate, and share about SLCE practice and research and embrace interdisciplinary perspectives. These lists of associations and journals are not exhaustive, but they are a great place to start connecting. Continue reading “Service-learning professional organizations and journals”→
Kansas State University faculty and doctoral students participated in the 25th annual International Leadership Association (ILA) Global Conference. The conference took place online Oct. 3-4, 2023, and in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Oct. 12-15.
The ILA is the largest worldwide professional community committed to leadership scholarship, practice, development, and education. Their mission is to advance leadership knowledge and practice for a better world.
The conference theme, Cultivating Leadership for a Thriving Future, speaks to the essential role leadership educators, practitioners, and researchers play in convening and holding space, fostering rich and open dialogue, and creating opportunities for mutual learning and appreciation of different perspectives and ways of being. Through this kind of leadership, we can build a future based on hope, mutual respect and the common good.
Staley School scholars participated in both the in-person and online sections of the conference. Their scholarship reflects the Staley School of Leadership’s research priorities: advancing leadership learning and development, building civic capacity, and leading change.
“The scholarship presented by K-State students and faculty reflect the kind of collaboration and innovation needed to advance leadership education in higher education and public leadership research and practice,” said Trisha Gott, Ed.D., assistant professor and associate dean of the Staley School of Leadership.
The McNair Scholars Program is now accepting applications for its 29th cohort.
Students in any major are welcome to apply. The objective of the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program is to guide eligible students through the process of applying to graduate school and to prepare them for attaining doctoral degrees. Eligible students must be first-generation college students and income-eligible, or from an underrepresented ethnic group in graduate study.
The McNair Scholars Program has been an important part of the undergraduate experience at Kansas State University since 1995 and is a federally funded TRIO program designed to honor the legacy of astronaut Dr. Ronald E. McNair. In addition to preparing participants for success as graduate students, professors, and professional researchers, the McNair Program opportunities include
a paid summer research internship
preparation for the GRE exam
mentoring by McNair staff and K-State faculty
assistance with applications for graduate school
This year, priority consideration will be given to applications received by October 18, 2023. Applications received after that date will be considered as openings remain. Application requirements include
a completed application form
an essay sharing your story, goals, and interest in graduate study
copies of transcripts of all college courses taken (unofficial are fine)
two faculty references
Additional information about the program, activities of past participants, and application forms can be found at our website. Submit your application through Canvas. Please request access before starting your application. Faculty references may be submitted by the faculty member via email to mcnair@ksu.edu or delivered to 007 Holton Hall.
If you think you might be interested in graduate school or the program, you are welcome to call, email, or meet with our staff and discuss educational possibilities. Email mcnair@ksu.edu or call 785-532-6137 to connect with staff and arrange a meeting.
As Kansas State University puts forward its strategic plan with emphasis on applied learning, how can our faculty prepare to engage with community and create stronger, efficient, mutually-beneficial relationships that enhance the student experience and fulfill a community need? One way is through service-learning.
In spring 2023, the Staley School of Leadership welcomedLori Kniffin, former K-State instructor, to campus for a guest lecture on engaged learning experiences.
In the second installment of this blog series, Kniffin reflects on the recently released K-State strategic plan and what democratic engaged-learning experiences. Read more posts from this series: What is service-learning?
Have you ever been part of something bigger than yourself? If you have, you know that experience can create purpose, energy, and collaboration. If you haven’t, you can have that opportunity now! On Sept. 8, 2023, a new strategic plan for K-State was announced—you can watch the Launching the Next-Gen K-State: 2023 State of the University video if you missed it live. In this address, Marshall Stewart, K-State senior vice president and chief of staff, alongside President Linton, shared a compelling vision for a Next-Gen K-State.
The strategic plan was created through a process that included voices from a variety of roles and perspectives: learners, faculty, staff, administrators, community members, donors, alumni and more. Each of those groups were also invited to participate in making this plan a reality, and there are a variety of ways to engage. The plan invites everyone to be part of something bigger than themselves: a next-generation land-grant institution focused on making progress on the complex challenges of Kansas, the nation, and the world. Continue reading “Advancing our work through democratic engagement”→
K-State Leadership Communication doctoral students and faculty have been recognized as 2023 recipients of the Association of Leadership Educators (ALE) Mini-Grant Awards. These awards provide small grants to support new diversity, equity, and inclusion focused projects or programs. These projects will be featured in an upcoming webinar 2 p.m CST Friday, Sept. 29. You can join by registering here.
The mission of ALE is to strengthen and sustain the expertise of professional leadership educators. Through their awards, these K-State faculty and students have developed programs to implement positive change on specific issues – and empower others to continue to do the same.
Leadership Development Fellowship for Nigerian Female Changemakers
Chibuzor Azubuike is the executive director of Haske Water Aid and Empowerment foundation. She has facilitated and organised several leadership trainings in Nigeria, Africa and the US. Chibuzor has over 12 years of experience in the development sector focusing on clean water provision and women/youth empowerment. She is also a PhD candidate in Leadership Communication and Graduate Teaching Assistant at Staley School of Leadership, Kansas State University.
Andrew Wefald, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Staley School of Leadership at Kansas State University. In that role Andrew teaches leadership classes and conducts research broadly around the topic of leadership. Andrew has published in journals such as the Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies, Leadership and Organization Development Journal, Journal of Management Inquiry, and the Journal of Organizational Behavior among others. Andrew earned his PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Kansas State University.
This project aimed to develop a culturally relevant leadership development workshop tailored for Nigerian women engaged in catalyzing change. Under the stewardship of Azubuike and Wefald, a hybrid two-day leadership workshop was organized, convening a cohort of thirty Nigerian women occupying leadership roles within small organizations. The Haske Water Aid and Empowerment Foundation provided on-ground support in Nigeria, complemented by a dedicated team of volunteers. Facilitators from both the United States and Nigeria participated, either virtually or in person.
Nigerian women gather around the table for the workshop
The workshop encompassed a diverse range of sessions, including topics such as team dynamics, effective communication, leadership coaching, business acumen, social entrepreneurship skills, and the art of crafting a narrative for change. These subjects were carefully chosen to equip women with the requisite leadership tools and skills vital for excelling within the intricate and traditionally male-dominated landscape.
Following the pilot workshop, a community of practice was established to ensure ongoing support and sustained leadership development. The project’s forward-looking objective is the establishment of a Women Leadership Development Fellowship Program. This initiative is designed to empower and provide support to women holding leadership positions within their organizations, aptly referred to as “change makers” for their pivotal role in reshaping the perception of women in Nigeria from historically passive actors to proactive change agents.
Adaptive Leadership Training: Civil Society groups addressing the challenge of the implementation of the Nigerian National Youth Policy
Anisah Ari serves as an Executive Board Member implementing projects across Africa. She is currently a PhD Candidate in Leadership Communication, with on-going research targeted at exploring emerging leadership practices in conflict ridden context with a focus on hyperlocal efforts. She has over the past 18 years worked in the development sector supporting public and civil society institutions to address multi sector policy and practice issues.
Fifty participants, representing various organizations focused on addressing challenges related to the implementation of the Nigerian National Youth Policy, engaged in a three-day session. The approach encompassed three dimensions: diagnosing technical and adaptive aspects of the challenges, engaging in dialogues to enhance comprehension of these challenges across different regions, and deliberating on available options, including political, economic, and social capital, necessary for progress.
Fifty participants pose for a group photo
At the end of the three-day engagement process, an action plan was developed with the aim to scale the training manual as a tool for other regions, and organizations expanded their network base.
A training manual was developed prior to the training as a tool to scale knowledge and practice to other regions. The outcomes of the three day engagement includes the development of participant action plans, and expanded organizational networks.
Key takeaways from this intervention include the importance of open-mindedness, willingness, and collaborative efforts in collectively addressing complex issues. Additionally, progress is most effectively achieved through contextually beneficial mutual learning, where individuals are intentional about identifying and leveraging strengths, opportunities, weaknesses, and threats.
We extend our gratitude to the Youth Alive Foundation for their invaluable support in facilitating this training. Special thanks are also due to the Association of Leadership Educators for their mini-grant and to Brandon Kliewer, Ph.D., for his intellectual support and guidance throughout this endeavor.
As Kansas State University puts forward its strategic plan with emphasis on applied learning, how can our faculty prepare to engage with community and create stronger, efficient, mutually-beneficial relationships that enhance the student experience and fulfill a community need? One way is through service-learning.
In spring 2023, the Staley School of Leadership welcomed Lori Kniffin, former K-State instructor, to campus for a guest lecture on engaged learning experiences. Here, we asked Lori to reflect on her personal experiences a little more in depth, and share more examples of service-learning.
This is the first blog in a series about service-learning, its origins, and how to incorporate service-learning into classrooms and programs. Read more posts from this series: What is service-learning?
What is service-learning?
In junior high and high school, I volunteered many hours through student organizations and my church (as lots of students do). I cleaned parks, served food, visited with the elderly and did many other activities that I can’t recall today. I logged many hours and made a difference in my community. Volunteering is a vital aspect of civic life; yet, it is often separate from one’s academic life.
The first time I connected service to my academic life was in my undergraduate education at K-State through service-learning.“Service-learning can be defined as both a pedagogy and change strategy that engages students, community members, and instructors/staff in co-creating relationships that integrate academic material, community-engaged activities, and critical reflection to advance public purposes and to achieve clearly articulated academic learning, civic learning, and personal growth goals” (Kniffin et al., in press). These Venn diagrams can be helpful in breaking down the major components of service-learning and categories of learning goals.
From left: Michaela Saunders; Chibuzor Azubuike; Keyla Harrison; Tamas Kowalik; Innocent Assoman; Keyhan Shams; Xatyiswa (Exy) Maqashalala; Dr. Kerry Priest
Several leadership communication doctoral students represented Kansas State University at the 2023 Association of Leadership Educators conference (ALE), June 16-19 in Nashville, Tennessee. The conference theme, “leading outside the lines” invited educators to consider the ways they teach, study, and practice leadership beyond classrooms and in communities.
“A major cornerstone of K-State’s Leadership Communication Ph.D. program and Third Floor Research partnership is a community-engaged approach to teaching, learning, and research,” said Kerry Priest, Ph.D., professor and director of the leadership communication program and conference participant and presenter. “Our graduate leadership educators showcased innovative educational practices they are utilizing to create impactful, culturally relevant leadership learning and development for students, organizations, and communities.” Continue reading “Leading Outside the Lines: Leadership communication scholars present at national leadership education conference “→
Lindsey Dreiling earned two B.S. degrees in professional pilot and technology management and a M.S. in counseling and student development. Continue reading “Leadership Communication celebrates doctoral graduate” 
