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Category: Faculty and Staff

Leading Outside the Lines: Leadership communication scholars present at national leadership education conference 

Posted on by Staley School of Leadership
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 “ →

Grow your network, support your well-being

Posted on by Staley School of Leadership
Download and share the fall 2023 'Cats Connect flyer
Click to download and share the fall 2023 ‘Cats Connect flyer

Are you looking for a way to meet and connect with other K-Staters? Do you want to help build our K-State community? If so, sign up for ‘Cats Connect – a new program at Kansas State University designed to build community through conversation.

‘Cats Connect is a peer-to-peer facilitated program designed to help groups of 4-6 Wildcats meet and develop friendships outside of their regular social circles. Groups meet for one hour for five consecutive weeks. During each meeting everyone will have the opportunity to respond to a series of fun and thought-provoking questions and engage in a small connection project.

Students, faculty, and staff are all invited to participate. Groups will be built based on shared experiences and availability.  Participants can select in-person (on the Manhattan campus) or virtual meetings (via Zoom).

The second fall session will meet weekly beginning the week of Oct. 16 through Nov. 27. Registrations for Session 2 are due by Tuesday, Oct. 10.

Below are the available sessions. If you are not available during any of these sessions, there is a space on the registration form to submit your availability.

Undergraduate students

  • Mondays from 4-5 p.m.
  • Tuesdays from 5-6 p.m.
  • Wednesdays from 4-5 p.m.
  • Thursdays from 4-5 p.m.

Graduate students

  • Mondays from 12-1 p.m.
  • Tuesdays from 4-5 p.m.
  • Wednesdays from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
  • Thursdays from 5-6 p.m.

Faculty/Staff

  • Mondays from 12-1 p.m.
  • Tuesdays from 4-5 p.m.
  • Wednesdays from 5-6 p.m.
  • Thursdays from 12-1 p.m.

Each group will be led by a facilitator, who is also a member of the group. They take a leadership role to help the group work through the activities. If you would be interested in serving as a facilitator for a small group, sign-up here.

All facilitators will receive ‘Cats Connect training. Training sessions will be offered:

  • 3:30-5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9 Leadership Studies Building 112
  • 3:30-5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11, Leadership Studies Building 112

The Morrison Family Center for Student Well-being and the Staley School of Leadership teamed up to bring ‘Cats Connect to the K-State community. If you have any additional questions please reach out to Jenneen LeMay at jalemay@ksu.edu, or Tamara Bauer at tamara@ksu.edu.

Here is what some Wildcats said after participating in ‘Cats Connect:

  • ‘‘Cats Connect is a small group so it’s not just you being completely exposed to a bunch of new people, just a small group of people.”
  • “It was really good to meet people with different majors and different backgrounds and branch out of my normal group.”
  • “I gained new confidence in talking with new people – and, it was a lot of fun!”
  • “Meeting people with varying personalities who are going through similar situations that I am in was really reassuring and helped me feel more connected to K-State.”
  • “Getting a set time each week to just talk to other people that are in the same situation as I am. It is very calming and nice to just have people to talk to that are outside of the typical circle of people.”

Learn more and sign up to participate on the ‘Cats Connect website.

Staley School team reflects on international professional development opportunity for leadership educators

Posted on by Staley School of Leadership

Several Staley School of Leadership team members Mike Finnegan, Ph.D., Keyhan Shams, and Kerry Priest, Ph.D., represented Kansas State University at the International Leadership Association’s (ILA) Leadership Education Academy (LEA). The intensive training program took place between July 31 – Aug. 3, in St. Paul, Minnesota. LEA is designed to build the knowledge and skills needed to excel as a leadership educator in a variety of settings and provides professional mentoring and networking opportunities.

Keyhan Shams, Kerry Priest and Mike Finnegan

The program was limited to 80 participants, including junior and senior faculty, student affairs professionals, higher education administrators, coaches and consultants, and community trainers and developers from around the globe. Participants experienced leadership theories and models, instructional strategies, and professional vision. Central to the training was a guided process of course or program planning, including a peer coaching process. Continue reading “Staley School team reflects on international professional development opportunity for leadership educators” →

Celebration of Life for Susan M. Scott

Posted on by Staley School of Leadership

Celebrating the beautiful life of Susan M. Scott

Family and friends will remember and celebrate Susan M. Scott, Ph.D., 4-6 p.m. Saturday, July 15, at the Leadership Studies building, 1300 Mid-Campus Drive North, Manhattan, Kansas. At 4:15 p.m. we will gather to share stories and memories that reflect Susan’s spirit. All are welcome. Please RSVP online. See who’s going on Facebook. Continue reading “Celebration of Life for Susan M. Scott” →

Kansas Leadership Center and Staley School’s Third Floor Research Team release findings on Latino leadership in Kansas

Posted on by Staley School of Leadership

The Kansas Leadership Center (KLC) recently released research from a study on Latino leadership perspectives in Kansas.

The report, released by the Third Floor Research team, a partnership between the KLC and the Staley School of Leadership, provides valuable findings and suggestions. The team hopes that this research will “inform workforce development and civic engagement practices so that more Latinos see themselves as leaders in Kansas organizations and communities.” Currently, more than 375,000, or 13% of the population of Kansas identifies as Latino.

“The Third Floor Research partnership is critical to understanding and advancing culturally relevant perspectives and practices of leadership that build the capacity of individuals and communities to engage today’s toughest challenges,” said Kerry Priest, Ph.D., professor at the Staley School of Leadership and director of the K-State Leadership Communication doctoral program.

Read the full story and download the report here.

Graphic reads, "Positive connection to Latino heritage = positive attitude about leadership + belief in personal leadership capacity"