Sixty-five Scholars Complete Executive Leadership Institute Program
Posted June 7, 2011
The second class of the Executive Leadership Institute completed the eight-month program and was recognized at an Awards Luncheon, Thursday, April 21, 2011, at Macon State College. Board of Regents Chair, Willis Potts, addressed the scholars. In his remarks he likened a leader’s core values to a tuning fork, to which every instrument in an orchestra tunes. “Diverging from one’s core values,” he said, “results in being off key, not ringing true.” “I carry this tuning fork with me everywhere. It is a constant reminder that wherever I am, I must be true to the changeless core that defines who I am and what I value.”
After congratulating the scholars, Chairman Potts left the assembly with three thoughts:
Expect the best. At the 1960 Democratic national convention, John Kennedy was asked if he would accept the Vice Presidential position on the ticket. Kennedy said, ‘No, I won’t; for once you accept second best when first is available, you tend to do it for the rest of your life.’
Don’t homogenize. Let the cream rise to the top. You have distinguished yourselves by being willing to step out. Have the internal strength to continue to do so.
Attack with enormous energy. Enthusiasm comes from the Greek ‘En Theos’ which literally means ‘Filled with the spirit of God.’ Leadership is indeed a high calling. Also remember that the only thing more contagious than enthusiasm is the lack of it.
Chancellor Erroll B. Davis, Jr., in his keynote address, said, “Leaders manage risk and alter futures. To do that often means to change the status quo. If you are going to get people to go along, they must believe in you, trust in you and share your vision. If you aren’t honest, or transparent, or ethical, you will find no one ready to follow.”
Davis praised the Executive Leadership Institute for providing its scholars with the opportunity to acquire two key components in leadership: (1) self-awareness, especially regarding one’s role within an organization, and (2) awareness of the impact one has on others. “Each of you represents an investment – by this System and by yourself. You are an investment in the System’s future,” Davis said. “Leaders are not born, they are developed and trained, and you are becoming the bench strength that will lead this System into the future.”
Scholars’ supervisors, institution presidents and volunteer mentors attended the awards luncheon in support of the scholars. Sixty-four scholars completed the program this year bringing the total number of ELI Scholars to 124.
2010 - 2011 Scholars
Corine Ackerson-Jones, Armstrong Atlantic State University
Philip Allen, Valdosta State University
Carolina Amero, Clayton State University
Kay Anderson, Georgia College & State University
Jonathan Anderson, University of West Georgia
Deepa Arora, Middle Georgia College
David Bartram, East Georgia College
Barbara Brown, Georgia Perimeter College
Susan Campbell Lounsbury, University System Office
Rodney Carr, Middle Georgia College
Erwin Carrow, University System Office
Pamela Cook, Georgia Health Sciences University
Kevin Demmitt, Clayton State University
Patricia Donat, North Georgia College & State University
Jerome Drain, Atlanta Metropolitan College
Scott Dunn, Bainbridge College
Lauren Fancher, University System Office
Jim Flowers, Georgia State University
Robert Forbes, Southern Polytechnic State University
Richard (Rick) Franza, Kennesaw State University
Jo K. Galle, Georgia Gwinnett College
Camilla Gant, University of West Georgia
Thomas Gardiner, Augusta State University
Chris Geiger, University of West Georgia
Brian Gerber, Valdosta State University
Randall Griffus, Dalton State College
Natalie Higley, Skidaway Institute Oceanography
Janette Hill, University of Georgia
Charles Isbell, Georgia Institute of Technology
Edward Jolley, Savannah State University
Jaclyn Kaylor, Georgia Southwestern State University
Christopher King, University of Georgia
Alex Koohang, Macon State College
Jonathan Lambright, Savannah State University
John Lester, Columbus State University
Donna Mayo, Dalton State College
Caroline McMillan, East Georgia College
Kelly McMurray, Gordon College
Tarrah Mirus, Albany State University
Larry Mitcham, Gordon College
Donald Moore, Fort Valley State University
Laura Musselwhite, Georgia Highlands College
Thomas Nelson, North Georgia College & State University
Julie Newell, Southern Polytechnic State University
Keith Newell, South Georgia College
Kirk Nooks, Georgia Highlands College
Mack Palmour, Gainesville State College
Charles Patterson, Georgia Southern University
Julie Peterson, Kennesaw State University
Vicki Phillips, Albany State University
Richard Reiman, South Georgia College
Kendra Russell, Georgia College & State University
Michael Sanseviro, Kennesaw State University
Darby Sewell, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Said Sewell, Fort Valley State University
Lisa Sills, Georgia Institute of Technology
Eric Skipper, Gainesville State College
Brian Stanley, Macon State College
Tonya Strickland, Bainbridge College
Alan Travis, University System Office
Bonnie Troiano, Georgia Health Sciences University
Bill Wells, Georgia Southern University
Julius Whitaker, Georgia Perimeter College
Valerie Whittlesey, Kennesaw State University
Jane Wong, Armstrong Atlantic State University