Ambassadors are a critical piece of the Staley School, sharing their first-hand experience with others about their own growth, engaged learning, and the role that leadership development plays in the personal and professional lives.
These students also help facilitate leadership development activities for learners of all ages at events like K-State Grandparents University and other various community partner events. Ambassadors also develop valuable relationships with one another, helping them build a network of friendships across campus and increasing their well-being.“Being a part of the Staley School Ambassadors has provided me with an amazing opportunity to further connect with students, faculty, and prospective students across campus, said Nick Edwards, junior, chair of the Ambassadors’ events committee.
“In this role I’ve had the opportunity to engage in my own personal leadership development, planning on-campus events like K-State Open House and facilitating weekly meetings. I’ve enjoyed every moment of working with this wonderful group of likeminded, passionate, and inclusion-oriented students as we spread the word about our the Staley School mission across campus!”
Ambassadors attend weekly meetings, host daily campus visits as their course schedule allows, and participate in a variety of recruitment events throughout the year. Eligible students must be enrolled in the leadership studies minor, the nonprofit leadership certificate or the global food systems leadership secondary major.
For questions, contact Staley School Ambassadors co-advisor, Kim Ralston at kamullen@ksu.edu.
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.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a flagship program of the U.S. department of state to support young African leaders. The program includes Entrepreneurship, and Public Administration tracks, the Staley School hosts a Civic Leadership Institute.
The Fellows come from diverse backgrounds and are doing incredible work to impact lives and transform their communities. In this series, former Fellow and now Staley School graduate research assistant, Chibuzor Azubuike, reflects on 2022 Fellows that share common work in education – a critical area of focus for Sub-Saharan Africa.
Agriculture and nutrition change agents making an impact in Africa
Daily meals with nutrients in the right proportion are essential for promoting a healthy lifestyle, sustaining growth and development, and extending life expectancy, while their absence can be detrimental to life. According to the African Development Bank Group, in 2017, more than one-third of stunted children under the age of five lived in Africa. The prevalence of stunting in children under the age of five differs, with Sub-Saharan Africa showing a higher prevalence (33.9%) in comparison with North Africa. Statistics show that the number increased from 50.6 million in 2000 to 58.7 million in 2017. There is a wake-up call for a solution to this menace, hence Sustainable Development Goal 2 focuses on zero hunger by 2030.
Against this backdrop, it is therefore commendable that Addisu Fekadu, Ph.D., from Ethiopia, who is also a researcher and lecturer at Arba Minch University in Ethiopia, focuses on improving the traditional enset processing and fermentation method. He has been intensively applying his research outputs to improve the livelihoods of 20 million enset-growing farmers in Ethiopia. The enset plant has been considered as the tree against hunger and climate resilient food crop in Ethiopia and beyond. Continue reading “2022 Mandela Washington Fellows: Agriculture and nutrition change agents making an impact in Africa”→
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a flagship program of the U.S. department of state to support young African leaders. The program includes Entrepreneurship, and Public Administration tracks, the Staley School hosts a Civic Leadership Institute.
The Fellows come from diverse backgrounds and are doing incredible work to impact lives and transform their communities. In this series, former Fellow and now Staley School graduate research assistant, Chibuzor Azubuike, reflects on 2022 Fellows that share common work in education – a critical area of focus for Sub-Saharan Africa.
According to the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), over one-fifth of African children between the ages of 6 and 11 are not in school, while nearly 60% of youth between the ages of 15 and 17 are not enrolled. (Kaledzi 2022) It is this challenge that Sustainable Development Goal 4 addresses, which is quality education.
Aside from education and youth development which are key areas that Mandela Washington Fellows hosted at Staley School are working on, it is interesting to see the impact that Fellows are making in their various countries, in addressing the challenges of inequality. Inequality in various forms, ranging from gender equality to upholding human rights, to mention but a few. The work of these young African leaders fighting the menace caused by inequality in Sub-Sahara Africa would be highlighted below.
Gender inequality SDG 6, aims to tackle gender equality in the world by 2030, to this end we have change makers in their communities contributing their quota to ensure that this goal is realized, like Saykwayee Harmony Henry from Liberia , who is the founder of Kids Development Initiative a program designed to advocate for the rights and privileges of women and children in Liberia and the world. She is also the Communication Director for the National Young Women council of Liberia where she educates and trains more young women to get involved in politics and leadership. The Mandela Washington Fellowships increased her knowledge of fundraising, shifted her ways of thinking positively, and challenged her to keep fighting and work harder for greater success. Her greatest takeaway from the fellowship is “Do the best you can even when no one is watching.”
Saykwayee speaking of the challenges Liberia is faced with and proffering solutions
Ramatoulaye Biteye from Senegal is a young woman who is strongly advocating for women’s and children’s rights and dignities. She focuses on supporting girls to realize their academic pursuits based on the principles of integrity and hard work. She is doing excellent work in her community by fighting against harmful cultural practices such as female genital mutilation which is common in her society.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a flagship program of the U.S. department of state to support young African leaders. The program includes Entrepreneurship, and Public Administration tracks, the Staley School hosts a Civic Leadership Institute.
The Fellows come from diverse backgrounds and are doing incredible work to impact lives and transform their communities. In this series, former Fellow and now Staley School graduate research assistant, Chibuzor Azubuike, reflects on 2022 Fellows that share common work in education – a critical area of focus for Sub-Saharan Africa.
According to the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), over one-fifth of African children between the ages of 6 and 11 are not in school, while nearly 60% of youth between the ages of 15 and 17 are not enrolled. (Kaledzi 2022) It is this challenge that Sustainable Development Goal 4 addresses, which is quality education.
Time out with youth development changemakers from Sub-Saharan Africa
The Mandela Washington Fellowship focuses on empowering young African leaders. Amongst the fellows hosted at Kansas State University Youth Development is a focus of their work. According to the United Nations, Africa has the youngest population in the world, with 70% of sub-Saharan Africa under the age of 30. Such a high population of youth is an opportunity for the continent’s growth and development if and when the youth are empowered. (Mulikita 2021) Leadership development and civic engagement strategies focus on the importance of including youth in decision-making and building opportunities for youth to work and to innovate. Below we profile some of the work these 2022 Mandela Washington Fellows are doing in the area of Youth Development.
Kiala Pedro Vata from Angola founded an initiative called “Juventude em acção” that drives youth empowerment, civic engagement and youth participation in governance. His goal is to achieve a community where youth are empowered and play an active role in community life and in solving community challenges. His aim is to build a community where public policies are concerted to be more effective to the citizen’s needs and desires. Continue reading “2022 Mandela Washington Fellows: Youth development changemakers”→
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.
Spotlight on Strengths is an annual event hosted by the K-State Strengths Initiative in partnership with Blue Key Senior Honorary. This event’s aim is to increase student engagement and well-being across campus so Wildcats can thrive. Building a community where all students move from strengths identification to strengths development as they navigate their journey as a Wildcat is the mission of the K-State Strengths Initiative.
The Spotlight on Strengths event will take place 4:30 to 5:45 p.m., Monday, Oct. 2, in Forum Hall at the K-State Student Union. Attendees will have the opportunity to listen to empowering student stories and connect with peers in breakout conversations centered on improving your personal and community well-being as a Wildcat. Please RSVP online here.
The 2023 Spotlight on Strengths theme is Well-being as a Wildcat. K-State outlines six pillars of well-being: Purpose, emotional, physical, financial, spiritual, and social.
We hope you take time to assess your well-being today, think of ways to make a positive difference in the life of those with whom you interact, and make everyday a great day to be a K-State Wildcat!
“Being a part of the Staley School Ambassadors has provided me with an amazing opportunity to further connect with students, faculty, and prospective students across campus, said Nick Edwards, junior, chair of the Ambassadors’ events committee.
