McDonough Leadership Conference

The McDonough Center hosted a successful leadership conference on April 12-13, 2013, bringing together faculty and students from a variety of institutions, including the U.S. Naval Academy, University of Oregon, and the University of Monterrey in Mexico. The conference included captone presentations by students from Birmingham-Southern College and Wilkes University. The conference also offered the inaugural Peoples Bank Undergraduate Business Case Competition. The Marietta College team took first place in the competition. The McDonough Scholars - students in the McDonough Leadership Program - played a major role in planning and running the conference. Taylor Landrie '13 served as the Conference Chair.

TO VIEW THE 2013 CONFERENCE PROGRAM, PLEASE CLICK HERE!

Leadership has emerged in recent decades as a major field of study in higher education. Today, many colleges and universities offer exciting curricular and co-curricular programs in Leadership Studies – challenging their students to develop their leadership skills in preparation for a life of purpose and engagement. It was in this spirit of intellectual exploration, scholarship, self-reflection and personal leadership development that the McDonough Leadership Center successfully hosted the 2013 McDonough Leadership Conference.

Conference Themes

Every year, the Conference Planning Committee selects different themes for the conference. The 2013 conference explored insights and best practices in five themes: (1) International business leadership; (2) Women in leadership; (3) Teacher leadership; (4) Leadership in law and policy; and (5) Leadership in healthcare.

Types of Sessions

The main emphasis of this conference was the promotion of undergraduate/graduate research related to Leadership Studies. Students presented original research, literature review, and reports from field experience. Aside from panel presentations, students also had an opportunity to present their research through poster sessions. 

The conference also included roundtable discussions and workshops that were of particular interest to leadership program directors and leadership studies faculty. These sessions were designed to help faculty strengthen their own programs.

Keynote Speakers:

The McDonough Leadership Conference also included keynote speakers. They brought a wealth of information and experience. The conference participants had an opportunity to interact with these accomplished leaders and scholars and learn from their insights. The 2013 keynote speakers:

• Business Leadership: Opening Keynote Friday Luncheon with Scott Theodore '86, Managing Partner, Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance. Presentation Title: "Leaders Growing Leaders."

• Women in Leadership: Keynote Saturday Luncheon with Hodan Ahmed, Senior Program Officer with NDI Somalia. Presentation Title: "Women's Political Participation in Somalia's Weak Institutional Context." 

• Leadership in Law and Policy: Closing Keynote Dinner with Shawn Selby '92, News Editor, Capital Business, a publication of The Washington Post. Presentation Title: "We All Work for the Government - And That's Nothing to Be Afraid Of."

2013 Conference Supporters:

Lead Sponsor: Theodore Leadership Conference Endowment

Key Sponsors: McDonough Corporation and Peoples Bank

Sponsor: Christy & Associates