The world needs effective and ethical leaders that can adapt, and shape, the world of tomorrow. Linfield University is aiming to prepare these future leaders through a new minor in Leadership and Ethics Across Disciplines (LEAD). Created to help students develop a versatile skillset, the LEAD minor combines courses from across the entire university, including the arts, humanities, science and business.
“Linfield does an excellent job at developing student leaders through areas like student government, residence life, career development and athletics,” said Patrick Cottrell, professor of political science. “We’re taking the next step by offering students an option to incorporate an exploration of leadership from different disciplinary perspectives and lived experiences into their academic course of study.”
Linfield launched the new minor on October 28 at a socially-distanced event for students, faculty and staff at the university’s McMinnville campus. The minor is a collaboration between Linfield’s School of Business and the College of Arts and Sciences, and has its administrative home in the Department of Political Science.
Students pursuing a LEAD minor complete a course sequence that offers an interdisciplinary introduction to leadership, two practicum experiences and courses in communication skills, ethics and diversity and cultural competency. A capstone course allows students to reflect on their own attributes as a leader or team member through the creation of a final portfolio.
“It has always been such a source of inspiration to see Linfield students practice civic engagement, engage in social entrepreneurship and serve their communities,” Cottrell said. “Hopefully the LEAD minor will help them make even more out of these experiences.”
