World-class residence halls come to Education City

Throughout my blog posts I comment about unfolding developments at Qatar Foundation and Education City. One of the things that excites me is the development of new residence halls. Our Campus and Residence Life staff have been working with arthitects to design new residence halls that will serve our purposes in the coming year. We are about to go into the ground for halls that will be available sometime in 2009. And, they are not just any residence halls. They are the world's first Platinum level LEED-certified residences. What this means is that they will have the least impact on the natural environment and they include all the measures to make them environmentally sustainable.

A press release just came out that tells the story.

This project makes a statement that learning is everywhere, in and out of class, and it even exists in the way we live. In this case, students will live in a setting where everyday they will be reminded that they can choose to live in ways that sustains our world. This is a very exciting project!

Abu Dhabi and back to Doha

The story is told of Abu Dhabi that the Emir once was riding through the desert when he asked the car to stop. He looked across the barren desert and asked one of his aides to begin planting trees and shrubs in the area. A year later he passed by the same area and found nothing had happened. He got out of the car and dug into the ground to plant a tree on the site he had noted the year before. From that grew a commitment to build an oasis out of this desert island and now what you see is this.

Abu Dhabi was absolutely beautiful. It is a much more manageable city than Dubai and the plantings have taken hold so much that you hardly know you're in the desert. When I flew out the day after the recruitment events, it was amazing to rise above the trees and realize that much of what I thought was wide-spread vegetation was just boundaries around highways and prominent buildings.

The trip to Dubai and Abu Dhabi was a combination of high school visits, informational receptions, and visiting with education ministry staff. The visit to the UAE education ministry in Abu Dhabi revealed some very interesting issues. A group of students came from the UAE to Education City last year. They were generally unsuccessful and the ministry was concerned about it. We talked about the need to clarify expectations for students who would come to Qatar to study, making a particular point that they had to be well prepared, or at minimum, committed to working hard to catch up. Some of my colleagues have told me that the ministry is more interested in Education City lowering its standards than UAE students increasing their effort and performance. These are dynamics that I will be exploring in the coming months.

I was greeted on my return to Doha by Darbi. We had a good Friday morning, including making breakfast at my place and then going to church. The rest of the day we spent on errands and shopping. I wanted to bring some pictures back of Doha so took a bunch of the area around the Coniche. This pictureis looking from the south side of the Coniche across to West Bay, with the old pearling boats anchored in front. The contrast of the old and new are part of Doha's charm - a contrast to much of the UAE where this kind of history and culture has been lost

This next picture is of the Museum of Islamic Art, set to open in March of 2008. This is another difference between Doha and the other Gulf cities. Doha is investing in educational and cultural buildings and institutions rather than solely business enterprise.In fact, you might have seen the news last week about the gathering of Arab scientists in Doha. The Emir invited over 100 renowned Arab scientists to return to discuss how the Arabian Peninsula could rediscover its roots as a leading intellectual and scientific center. The result of the conference is that three institutes will be established that will support these scientists and their work. Another investment in the future of Qatar...

Today is my last day of work before the holiday break. I return to the U.S.A. on Wednesday and can't wait to see my family. It should be an unbelievable reunion! I'll leave my ville in the sunset (pictured below) as I make my way west.

Doha - a little more and Dubai - a little less Arab

I've continued to wonder what's more or less culturally Arabic in the Gulf region. For instance, last weekend, I took our new Northwestern University branch partners out to dinner in the renovated old Souq in Doha. We went to a modernized but culturally reminiscent rooftop restaurant overlooking the streets of the Souq to the right. It was wonderful walking through the streets in the warm evening, viewing various vendors who had products either like or from the old days of the Souq - spices, teas/coffees, dates, rugs, carved wood icons, and any others. We left the evening refreshed by something old, yet renewed for us to enjoy.

By contrast, I'm in Dubai on a student recruitment trip this week. We've been visiting schools who might logically have students interested in Education City. The city of Dubai (pictured to left through the playground of one of the schools) resembles little, if anything, of its heritage. Oh, to be sure, many Arab business men still wear thobes but, for the most part, the feeling of the hotel I'm in and the neighborhoods I've seen are like any European or North American city - only newer and a bit more luxurious.

The tale of these two cities leads me to wonder what it takes for a city to be prosperous and progressive, yet not lose itself. What are the things worth keeping and what things need serious change? It's a question I'm still sorting out as I see more of this region. Come back in a few days for pictures of Abu Dhabi - that's the next stop.

A little bit of the U.S.A. (and the rest of the world)

Today marks my fourth week in Qatar - a moment of passage for sure. I still find my location here to be a bit surreal. Sometimes I've very aware I'm away from the U.S.A. and other times it seems like life as usual. Last weekend was a combination of comfort experiences and others that reflected the new world in which I live.

On Friday night, a new colleague (Kevin) invited me to a random party. He said that the person hosting it was pretty interesting and that I just had to prepare myself for it. First, before the party, we went to a great Indian restaurant where a full scale meal totaled to 50QR (about $13 USD) with Dave, Karen, Curt, and Belle (all working colleagues). The party was a hoot. The hostess, Tammy, greeted us at the gates to her ville and immediately grabbed my arm, ripping me away from the security of my new colleagues. She introduced me to a tall, young guy from Australia. We engaged in conversation for probably 10-15 minutes and then suddenly Tammy appeared again, "OK, it's time to go," she said. She grabbed me by the arm and took me off to meet my next pairing - this time a Brit woman in her 30s who teaches at Qatar Academy and knew Darbi from playing rugby. This succession of disrupted conversations and starting new ones occurred no less than 10-12 times during the evening, each time with Tammy grabbing my arm and informing all that it was time to move on. I can honestly say that I've never had the opportunity to network so quickly and it was quite fun. People from all around the world were at the party but it was in a very natural environment that felt much like a backyard in the U.S.A., except that it was almost December and it was warm and comfortable outside. The process of "OK, it's time to go" seemed at first intrusive but it connected everyone in a very helpful way - a technique I'll have to try someday if I have the guts.

The next "little bit of the U.S.A. is pictured to the right. This is an inside picture of Rik's where I had breakfast with some other colleagues early Saturday morning. Rik's is the ex-pat gathering place in Doha. Upon entry, patrons immediately notice the flags of Texas, Kansas, and many other U.S.A. states. There are American film posters all over the place and the menu is distinctly American - and greasy and bad for you. But, oh, it tasted so good. We sat around drinking coffee and reflecting on the experience of Qatar and on the shopping trip we were about to launch - looking for Persian rugs to warm up my ville. Oh, and BTW, Rik's is owned and fully staffed by a family from the Phillipines.

All in all, it was a great weekend that reminded me of home but then jogged me to understand that I'm not really home. Maybe that's evidence that a "global citizen" perspective is beginning to settle in. Perhaps home will never quite be the same again, but in other ways, it's just exactly as it always has been, only bigger...

Ex-pat Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has special meaning when you're an ex-pat in one of the countries around the world where this holiday is not celebrated. The only way I know Thanksgiving is through family, food, the Macy's Parade, and collapse. Thanksgiving in Qatar went on for three days and included no less than four invitations to join other ex-pat groups for meals. It was very gratifying to be invited out so many times but I only succumbed to two offers. We all made our own renditions of sweet patatoes, salads, gravies, and more that we cherish from home.

Besides sharing Thanksgiving celebrations this last weekend, I ventured into the desert for a safari. It was very cool. Much of the safari was simply riding around in a comfortable SUV viewing the landscape (picture below and right). However, on several occassions we stopped to really absorb the setting. The last stop we made, the one where we saw this particularly photogenic camel (picture below), the sun was setting in the west while the full moon was rising in the east.
Even though there were about fifty people joining in this experience, there was a deep sense of solitude and connection in what I thought would be a pretty desolate place. It was desolate but it was this apparent void that made room for reflection, connection, and beauty. Arab lands are not filled with the lush colors of more vegetated places but they have a beauty of their own.

Ex-pat Thanksgiving - having a place to call home to which I know I can return and having a new place where being ex-pats is celebrated, even while we work to build another country.

Prospects and progress in the Arabian Gulf

My continuing ninety degree learning curve results in my stumbling into amazing things on a daily basis. One question that I've continued to field from my colleagues when they want to know more about Qatar is related to women and their opportunities. Her Highness Sheikha Mozah is a very strong woman who provides a role model for women in the Gulf and elsewhere. Her remarks from May 2007 made it clear where women's rights stand in relation to human rights. She advocated choices that balance commitments to cultural and spiritual traditions. Her actions speak even more loudly than her words when opportunities are made available for Arab women in Qatar through advancing education and creating opportunities to lead cultural and business organizations.

Beyond opportunities for women, there continue to be some questions about opportunities for various cultural and national groups. The mix of nationalities here is truly and utterly amazing. I so enjoy going places and hearing so many different languages and seeing so many different styles of dress. One of the things challenging Dubai (down the Gulf in the UAE) is the perception that they have exploited different immigrant groups in the working class, particularly in the construction and hospitality industries. I've not sorted out how I see this but I do pay attention to my surroundings. Last week I went for the blood test and tomorrow I go for my eye test for immigration approval. These experiences have exposed me to all sorts of people who are coming to Qatar. The good thing is that Qatar grants working visas to those who are sponsored by a specific organization or entity. While the presence of immigrants helping build this country may be questioned, at least there are processes in place to validate their presence - not something that is available in all developing or developed countries. Those contributing to the building and development boom are people seeking to better their own lives by serving the country of Qatar. While it may raise questions of purpose, many find a place that offers greater opportunity than they would have had in their home country - not so different from the burgeoning frontier days of the U.S.A. Sometimes it feels a little like that in Qatar.

Investing wisely

I had the phenomenal opportunity to work with a group of 17 second-year MBA students from Stanford University yesterday. They were in the Arabian Gulf region on an "Energy Trek," looking at what high-resource countries are doing to invest in their people. I was so excited to share with them the work of Qatar Foundation. From Education City to Reach Out to Asia, to $100,000,000 for Katrina relief, to forming a Qatar National Symphony, and many other things, it is almost overwhelming. The 17 students represented 12 different countries and none had ever heard of or witnessed anything like the Qatar Foundation.

So, the interesting question that floats in my head is "investing wisely" and for what purpose? Obviously, the Stanford students were inquiring whether or not Qatar and other Gulf countries are investing money in ways that will benefit large numbers of citizens and will create a positive future for this region. I hope that some of them read this blog post and join in the conversation by offering their perspective. I know my opinion and I don't hold back from offering it.

However, I left this group after three hours of very interesting conversation by encouraging them to invest in another way - investing themselves. This was a diverse, talented, and engaging group. They can make a real difference in the world but only if they decide on issues that matter and issues that reflect a wise investment on their part. Indeed, they have too much talent to waste an ounce of it or a minute of their time with frivolity. They have numerous opportunities to deepen their awareness of the world, one of which is the Global Management Immersion Experience (GMIX); we may seek to become a GMIX sponsor which would allow Qatar Foundation to have a Stanford intern for project-based work.

The importance of investing wisely came to me in another way today. I received messages from TJ and Anne about one of our dear Miami friends, Joe. Joe has struggled for the last couple of years with cancer and he lost the battle this weekend at around age 22. Joe was an amazing individual, full of wit, wisdom, and will. He was in remission when I saw him last. He was joking and carrying on as if there was nothing threatening his life. In his short years on earth, he invested wisely of his talent and his love of others. There are those who will read this post and know exactly what I mean.

Invest wisely - our talent is too great and our time to short...

Doha before and after

You've seen some pretty incredible pictures in the previous posts. Well, you have to see some comparison pictures to understand what's really happened. The phenomenon of Doha is less that 30 years old. I don't know the exact date of the picture below but it shows Doha probably in the 1970s when the first of the great hotels that are now here was built. You can see in the picture the construction of the Sheraton. A road leads from nowhere to what was the beginning of the Renaissance of Qatar.

The next picture is looking from the Al Sharq hotel across the water to West Bay which is where you can see the Sheraton which is now dwarfed by the emerging skyline (It's the short white building a little right of the center of the picture).

The comparison of these two pictures only begins to demonstrate what a dramatically different place Doha has become in approximately 30 short years. There are lots of issues to work on and lots of challenges ahead but this is one of the most vibrant places in the world and it's important for citizens around the world to know about it. We're talking about what you see above being but a few miles south of Kuwait and Iraq and west across the Arabian Gulf from Iran. The Gulf region is typically portrayed as a dangerous and untrustworthy place. My emerging and deep concern is that western journalists and citizens must begin to understand that they simply don't know what's happening in this area of the world. I'll try to do my part so stay tuned!

No sooner did I get started...

The amazing thing about the time I've spent at Qatar Foundation is that there are so many things that have lined up so well. I had a day of other meetings and work after the Faculty and Student Services team retreat and then went immediately into the Qatar Symposium. The Symposium was sponsored by Carnegie Mellon University - Qatar. The main brain-trust behind the Symposium is Gloria, a wonderful and fun new colleague. The date of the Symposium was determined before I even knew I was coming here but it was uncanny how this event provided the opportunity to establish relationships and get a read on what's going on so quickly.

The Symposium site was a very cool new hotel in Doha - Al Sharq (picture to right and below). It has an Arab village feel with wonderful small villes, meeting rooms, and fountains and pools everywhere. I have to pinch myself when I'm in these kinds of places - not exactly like Oxford.

The Symposium started with a keynote from my superior and led into a reception where all the participants mixed and mingled. The next morning I was given the opportunity to kick off the day with a keynote about the purpose of the Qatar Foundation and the potential we have as colleagues of Education City. I always try to center myself so that I'm speaking from my heart but this particular morning was unbelievable. I felt so present and so focused that it was almost overwhelming. It was also as easy a speech as I've ever given. The primary reason - I believe so deeply in what we're doing.

The response to my keynote, the others who followed, and the general discussion over the course of the day was amazing. By the end of our time together, the branch and center representatives who were there were all ready to work hard to enhance our mutual work. There was a sense of the deep and critical importance of our work and everyone jumped in to say how they wanted to contribute. It was a very exciting day.

My challenges are now two: 1) keep the momentum going by pulling people together to refine the ideas we generated, and 2) maintain a focus on adaptive and facilitative leadership that keeps everyone at the table. In the particular case of Doha, Qatar Foundation, and Education City, things are so overwhelming that people just want someone to take care of it - fix it. The only problem - there isn't an easy fix and it takes all of us contributing everything we have in order to get the job done. Under these circumstances, it would be easy to get sucked into providing heroic and inappropriate leadership just because people want solutions so badly. The good thing is that everyone wants to do the work and we will. I've never seen this kind of commitment anywhere in my life experience - awe inspiring to say the least.

Getting started in planning

I haven't had much of a chance to blog for the last week. Honestly, I've been working from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. pretty much every day. The work has been exhilirating and the pace exhausting but I've loved every minute of it. The remarkable thing is that my move here was so fast and the work cranked up almost immediately. I created some of that through advanced planning but it has been stunning how quickly things came up.

On the first day of my first full week with QF, we had a staff retreat (picture of our retreat site to the right - Diplomatic Club of Doha) for the Faculty and Student Services team.
Four young professionals took on the responsibility of organizing and preparing for the retreat. They did a terrific job of focusing on getting us more deeply acquainted (we had never retreated before) and looking at the opportunities and challenges of our work. We had a team challenge facilitator from the Reach Out to Asia staff which is another Qatar Foundation program. He was probably the best facilitator I've ever experienced. I'm totally psyched because he will probably be the lead team challenge facilitator for LeaderShape Qatar in January 2008.

The new Faculty and Student Services team is pictured to the left. We're only seventeen strong now but we're adding staff every day. We can hardly add people fast enough, especially when most of our hires involve immigration approval. As you can see, the staff team is very diverse which lends a natural and wonderful flavor to our work.

Continuing to adjust and opportunities it brings

I finished Day #2 and I'm off for Day #3 of Education City today (Thursday), which is the last day of this week. On Day #2 I had the chance to participate in the signing ceremony to bring Northwestern University to Qatar in Fall of '08. The people involved from Northwestern are great, especially the person who will be responsible for coordinating the student affairs work within the branch. She was very eager to collaborate with the QF staff and was eager to get started, and, she's a friend of a colleague I've known for a long time who works with her.

I continue to adjust but I struggled a bit with sleep in my first days. The first two nights, I awoke at 4 a.m. tossing and turning and unable to return to sleep. I was so tired last night that I crashed and stayed asleep until 5:30 a.m. - hoorah! The sleep deprevation was an irritation during the first days and it made me more tired than I'd like to be. However, I found a bit of thankfulness even in lost sleep. Lost sleep represents a disruption, although small, of my regular lifestyle. I started thinking during Day #2 about my transitions in life and what they each brought me.

As I think about it, I've had three major transition points in my life where I was substantially alone - the first was moving to Maryland immediately after graduate school. The second was Luxembourg in the fall of 2005. The third is Qatar. Obviously, each of these presented major challenges for me in adjustment. However, they also opened up pretty amazing things for my future. So, I plan to get my head around welcoming the change rather than freaking out - or at least I'll try.

Learning to embrace the change is a fascinating issue and came to a positive turn the morning if Day #2 at 4 a.m. I awoke, tossed and turned, heard morning prayers broadcast on loud speakers at 4:30 a.m. (actually, a very awe-inspiring sound), and then got up. I ate breakfast, listened to my ipod, and then finished reading Jaworski's "Synchronicity." The end of the book is astounding and brought me to tears as I was sitting in my upstairs gallery. I'll spare you some of the details but Joe Jaworski's life experience has many parallels to mine - a bit strange how much! Leon Jaworski (yes, the Watergate prosecutor) was Joe's Dad and before Watergate days prosecuted Nazi war criminals after WWII. The prosecution of Nazi atrocities deeply wounded Leon and he wrote a book dedicated to his son that revealed his commitment to "transform institutions as well as the individual human heart to ensure that this kind of pain doesn't continue to occur in the world again and again." The story closes with a beautiful poem that follows:
"Tell me the weight of a snowflake," a coal-mouse asked a wild dove.
"Nothing more than nothing," was the answer.
"In that case, I must tell you a marvelous story," the coal-mouse said.
"I sat on the branch of a fir, close to its trunk, when it began to snow -- not heavily, not a raging blizzrd -- no, just like in a dream, without a wound and without any violence. Since I did not have anything better to do, I counted the snowflake settling on the twigs and needles of my branch. Their number was exactly 3,741,952. When the 3,741,953rd dropped onto the branch, nothing more than nothing, as you say -- the branch broke off."
Having said that, the coal-mouse flew away.
The dove, since Noah's time an authority on the matter, thought about the story for awhile, and finally said to herself, "Perhaps there is only one person's voice lacking for peace to come to the world.

The point is that we never know whose life we are touching and it might be that one last person's voice that will turn the tide to peace. It may seem outrageously grandiose to say that I'm contributing in this way but I have to live as if this is what I'm doing. I'm an incurable romantic and I have to see my work as transformative and I think the people of Qatar can transform the world if we can learn to respect each other and work together.

1st day in Qatar

I made it through my first day at Education City. My day began at 4 a.m. when I couldn't sleep any longer due to jet lag and excitement. I got up, listened to music, surveyed my new surroundings, went for a walk, cleaned up, and waited for a ride to work; I don't have a car yet because all my immigration documents have to clear first and my appointment to do that is tomorrow (Wednesday). I took some pictures of my ville and will post these later. It really is a nice place, although I will need to do some personalizing of the space.

The big surprise was that 1/2 hour after getting to the office, I was informed that I needed to go to the Foundation Headquarters building to meet with the Executive Committee of the Board. Dr. Abulla Al-Thani, to whom I report, was reporting on the reorganization of his area and he wanted me to attend to meet the Board. This was my first opportunity to see the Board, and especially the Board chair, Her Highness Sheikha Mozah. The Board was very interested in the work of the Faculty and Student Services area, especially issues of student housing and building a campus culture that is attractive to students and deepens their learning. It is very clear that there is deep understanding about the need to establish a collegiate experience for Education City students.

After my day was concluded at the office, I went over to the LAS building which is where Carnegie Mellon and Georgetown now make their homes. The building was full of activity with the Georgetown students attending a lecture of an Islamic studies expert and the Carnegie students watch "An Inconvenient Truth." It is very evident that students are interested in being involved, in exploring contemporary issues, and in deepening their learning.

The combination of the vision of Her Highness and the responsiveness of Education City students bodes well for the work ahead. It's a matter of getting the work done, the buildings up, and working jointly with the branch campuses to design initiatives that fit for their students. Sounds easy but there's a lot of work to do.

I'm tired tonight and will likely go for a walk, eat, and then let my body collapse. Once I get back in the groove with the timezone, I'll have more opportunity to think. In the meantime, I just need to pace myself, keep up my exercise, and enjoy the music on my ipod.

Last minute thought and off to Qatar

I'm in a rush this morning trying to prepare to board my flight to Qatar this afternoon. I'll be in Doha at 7 p.m. Monday night and at my new desk on Tuesday morning, ready for a new venture that will shape my life and career in ways that I never expected. Being in a rush, I'll post a couple of thoughts and then may return to them; I think it's important to reflect at least for a moment before I depart the U.S.A.

First of all, I am so thankful for the many Miami friends who have helped me so much in my transition. The last three months have flown by but things have fallen together rather nicely. Thanks to all my colleagues who are stepping up as I depart and thank you to students for always being willing to engage your learning and leadership to the fullest.

I am also thankful for the inspiration of colleagues throughout the U.S.A. and now beyond. I returned from the International Leadership Association conference in Vancouver on Saturday after having talked with colleagues like Susan Komives, Ron Heifetz, Sharon Daloz Parks, and many others. It was overwhelming to feel the good will and the affirmation for my new work in Qatar. I wouldn't have a prayer of doing what I need to do without great colleagues distributed around the world. And the friends of friends thing is unbelievable - there are so many connections I've already made in Qatar and the Arabian Gulf as a result of referrals.

As I think of what is ahead, I think of the importance of investing all of myself in every way possible. A colleague at Miami, Michael Kumler, works in cultivation and fund-raising for the Student Affairs division at Miami. He talks about investing time, talent, and treasure in things that make a difference. Different ones of us have more or less of time, talent, or treasure but the point is that we give as much of each as we can. This is a lesson that I've begun to explicitly incorporate into the way I work and engage with others. I think I've done this implicitly but knowing of the idea in more concrete ways draws more attention to it. Because of my career choice, I've had more time and talent to invest. I've realized that one of the things that gratifies me most and has the greatest impact is investing time and attention in developing others' talent. And a realization of this is that I love investing in others because I recognize the unrealized gifts that so many have. When I engage, I know that I'm working with students and colleagues who are likely to have greater gifts and more potential than I do. This makes my investment particularly critical because there is so much need to be addressed in our world. I have been blessed to have many in whom the investment of attention has paid off in such amazing ways. I know this will be the case in Qatar and I appreciate having had the experiences at Miami that have helped me sharpen my commitment to talent development.

For anyone who reads my blog, you're probably one of those who I perceive to have great gifts and potential, if not realized at this point, it is unfolding. I thank you for engaging with me and taking yourself seriously enough to know how important your contributions are to the world around you.

Higher education for a global 21st century

One of the things that I attempted through writing Deeper Learning in Leadership was to propose models of learning and leadership that would be relevant in the global environment of the 21st century. My experience prior to, and as I was writing, was exclusively U.S.A.-based and European. As I've become more aware of the Arabian Gulf region and the incredible things happening there, I've tried to figure out what's the same or different about higher education in these three geographic areas.

As my previous posts have noted, a lot is in the news regarding the emergence of higher education in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. However, this coverage is about the focus of these three independent, and in some ways competing countries. Interestingly enough, the three are adopting and adapting primarily U.S.A. models. But, is there a real understanding of both the strengths and shortcomings of higher education in the U.S.A.? Recent critiques of American higher education such as Derek Bok's Our Underachieving Colleges and the PBS documentary Declining by Degrees paint a pretty dire picture. At the same time these critiques are underway, new models are emerging that propose how to enhance learning both before and during the collegiate years.

One of the more interesting descriptions of how higher education can be enhanced came out of a study group convened by the American Association of Colleges & Universities. The College Learning for the New Global Century report critiques American higher education and proposes the importance of liberal education and integrative learning. The committee, which incidentally included Derek Bok, George Kuh, Ron Crutcher and others, combines ideas of globalism, experiential learning, integration of in and out of class learning, and the importance of creativity and the arts into a fascinating challenge for the future.

In addition to this U.S.A.-based perspective, Europe is also fashioning a global perspective to assure that their future is secure. The Lisbon Declaration of the European University Association defines a cooperative effort throughout Europe that will foster innovation, sustainability, and workforce preparation.

The question then becomes, with the Arabian Gulf investing proportionally more than either the U.S.A. or Europe into higher learning, and importing the best of both of these sources of "Western-style" learning, what is actually being imported and does it function in ways that truly enhance learning and build the capacity of the citizens of the U.S.A., Europe, and the Gulf? We live in interesting times where higher education appears to be at least one of the keys to a prosperous future. However, as new perspectives are proposed and resources pour into higher education, how do we figure out which models have the greatest promise? I proposed some ideas in Deeper Learning in Leadership but there need to be more. And, as leaders in higher education, we need to give our full and best conceptual energy to the challenge ahead. Will pushing the boundaries of global 21st century higher education be pushed independently and competitively or will they be pushed collaboratively and with global improvement the goal?

Legacy - granted or sought?

As I've read about (and have begun to observe) the explosion of development and education in the Arabian Gulf, I've begun to think of the question of legacy. While the improvement of educational and other opportunity for citizens of the UAE ("60 Minutes" covered Dubai on October 14,2007), Saudi Arabia (September 14, 2007, Chronicle of Higher Education), and Qatar are certainly good in and of themselves, all three of these countries are portrayed as developing a "legacy" for their people when the 21st century economy shifts from black gold (oil and natural gas) to other industries. So the question becomes, in what ways will this period establish a legacy and who determines it? Is the phenomenon of establishing a legacy granted or can it be sought?

Webster's Collegiate (1993; yes, I know using a dictionary is way old) defines legacy as "a gift by will" or "something transmitted by or received from an ancestor." This definition at least implies that one cannot seek to establish a legacy - it is granted by will to us or is received as a gift from an ancestor. Clearly, what leaders are attempting to do in the Arabian Gulf is to establish opportunities that will benefit the current and future generations of residents in the region. However, the degree to which the opportunities are eventually defined as a legacy depends on how it serves others. My own way of thinking of this is that we cannot seek to establish a legacy in, or through, our own lives; we are only granted a legacy through our service and as a result of our work and vision coming to fruition in ways that transcend us.

The reason this is important related to leadership is that it is fairly obvious that there are those who attempt to establish their own legacies through their acts of leadership. When we see this, how real or how transformative is the work? The work may have an impact but legacy is only granted when these acts transform and when they allow others to contribute as well. In many ways, it is only natural that we might all seek to be remembered for something we've done, something we've contributed to make the world better. My suspicion is that for those who seek the legacy, the moments of recognition are fleeting and hollow. The reward in this case is sought and most of the observers know what motivated the originator - self-aggrandizement. On the other hand, those who do not seek the recognition usually enjoy a longer and deeper appreciation for their work. Those who seek remain empty while those who simply serve are often recognized for their selfless contribution by the generations to follow.

Legacy - granted or sought? is a tough question. It requires self-examination that may not be all that comfortable. By examining, perhaps we can be freed when we let go of the desire to be recognized. The recognition comes of its own accord and lasts for many, many years and, if we are lucky, even generations. The Arabian Gulf is full of potential legacy and it will be fascinating to see how the broader globe embraces this amazing time in its history. In our own personal journeys, what potential legacies are either being granted or sought in this very moment?

Troubled and Thankful - in the same place?

I love being challenged to look more critically at my own experience and views. While I profess and embrace this a good portion of the time, I sometimes face challenges that I didn't expect and that I subliminally dismiss. That's been happening to me quite a bit this last week. I have found myself floating into a critical place that sees the problems but does not recognize my own opportunity to control my reaction to it - thus the title of this post "Troubled and Thankful - in the same place?"

As I prepare to leave Miami and to join the Qatar Foundation, I've noticed things in my current experience that have irritated or troubled me. It's not important to go into the details but let's just say that it has been primarily about the variety of responses I've had to leaving Miami and the new opportunities ahead in Qatar. Some colleagues and friends share the excitement I have and others are reserved, skeptical, or worse. Mind you, my emotional intelligence filters are probably set on "hyper-sensitive" right now so I recognize that my reactions have to be carefully examined. I have been aware of the need to monitor my own perceptions and to double-check them at every turn. Monitoring my reactions allows me to sort between what is about them versus what is about me. So, as an example, when someone reacts to my move by telling me about a visit they made to Qatar when in fact they actually visited Dubai (and this has happened a troubling number of times), and when their reaction dismisses the vision and purpose of Education City, I have to sort out what about the reaction is them or me. Further, if my conclusion is that at least a good portion of the reaction is about them, what will I do? Is there an opportunity to inform or to educate? Are there assumptions that will prohibit authentic discovery and exploration of our mutual questions?

If you've taken the "Darbi's Experiences Abroad" link, you know that my daughter has begun a process of more consistently finding and expressing thanks. This is based on a pretty cool area of research on thankfulness and how it impacts our lives. What I've realized from her posts and from this article is that looking for insights stimulated by thankfulness, we can actually turn many a troubling moment into an opportunity to know ourselves and to become more fully authentic in our interactions with others. As a very simple and pretty revealing example, I've reacted negatively on a couple of occasions when topics of interest to me and have been part of my work at Miami are carrying on without me. I was prepared to know that these conversations would take place after I was gone but not right under my nose - now! This kind of thing could have eaten at my soul until I began to understand the opportunities in thankfulness. It's actually very easy to do and it creates an alternative reality that is so powerful. When the conversations go on without me, that means that things I've valued actually mean something to others. It also means that capacity has emerged that will keep topics of deep interest to me alive. And, it also allows me the incredible luxury to spend this moment blogging about my reactions and it also affords the opportunity to think forward to the next step in my life in Qatar.

Woe! All of a sudden, a troubling feeling is replaced with thankfulness. The greater bonus is that the thankfulness opens yet unexplored opportunities to do things that really matter! What a lesson, stimulated by a little reflection and tempered with thankfulness.

U.S.A. and Qatar = Partners or Threats

Some very interesting things have been in the news lately about the Arabian Gulf region. Focus has been primarily on Dubai and Qatar for their entrepreneurial spirit and expansive growth. The Financial Times carried one article a couple of weeks ago and CNBC carried an interview with Qatar's First Deputy Prime Minister just today (October 2, 2007).

Browse these media commentaries and then think critically about the messages we are receiving. Are we encouraged to see the U.S.A. and countries like Qatar as partners or are we encouraged to see the growing and developing countries of the Arabian Gulf and East as threats to security in the U.S.A.? Specifically, the CNBC interview raises the specter of Qatar and other emerging Arabian Gulf countries buying out the west. Yet, the Deputy Prime Minister of Qatar raises the question of why the U.S.A. military forces can place their Arabian Gulf headquarters on Qatari soil while at the same time economists express concern that the U.S.A. doesn't know who it can trust when it comes to foreign investments in U.S.A. and European markets. So, which way is it? Some of these stories make it seem as if worldwide investing is suspect or threatening when, in fact, the U.S.A. has been doing the same thing for almost a century. The tables have turned and some other countries now own a piece of us (U.S.A.). Yes, it takes us potentially out of control of our own destiny. Yes, it means that others may prosper as much as we have in the U.S.A. But what's to fear if the U.S.A. has the capacity for innovation and competition that it says it has?

I don't mean for this post to be overly derogatory about U.S.A. media and interests. What I hope it does is to encourage us to consider the motivations of our commentators and public figures. I dare say that this is but one small example of the growing globalization that has now taken the planet. We are part of it and we need to figure out how to engage with other equal partners as we shape a future that can benefit greater numbers of citizens throughout the world.

First reaction to Deeper Learning in Leadership

I just had a particularly exhilirating moment - the first conversation with someone who's read Deeper Learning in Leadership. It was a Washington University staff member who was looking for ways to both broaden and deepen the leadership learning opportunities for Wash U. students. She contacted me last week to set up a conference call; I told her that she might want to order the book, read it, and then give me a call. Interestingly enough, Deeper Learning in Leadership had arrived earlier the same day and she was ready to start reading.

I know it may seem that I was a little self-absorbed to be so interested in someone else's reactions to what I've written but I couldn't help myself. I was extremely gratified when her two first reactions were being overwhelmed by the possibilities while being relieved by my message that all we have to do is start somewhere, don't sweat the small stuff, learn from what we do, and approach the opportunities of leadership learning as a journey in discovery.

I hope that Deeper Learning in Leadership serves as a summary and a catalyst for more substantive work. I also desperately hope that it reminds us that sometimes our organizational models don't serve us well. If we really want to reach students, we may need to look at ourselves at the same time - critically analyzing our way of approaching each other and the way we foster learning in students.

Deeper Learning in Leadership - It's out!

Deeper Learning in Leadership is finally out! I got my copy yesterday (9-20-07) which will go down in history for me as a day of relief, accomplishment, and fulfillment. It was a bit strange not knowing what to do with the knowledge that this journey was finally over. This book has been a dream for at least a decade and having it out allows me to turn my attention to other things - most importantly to my work in Qatar, an opportunity that will allow me to use the ideas I espouse in the book in practice.

I am still utterly amazed by how the upcoming opportunity in Qatar provides a potential alternative organizational model for student development work. Who would have thought that encountering Esther Lloyd-Jones in 1985, digging into her different view of student personnel work, and then writing a book to remind contemporary student affairs workers of her contribution would have led to this moment? I could not see that this 20+ year path could bring me to this point and place and I'm not sure it matters. As an example of the "conviction in action" that I advocate in Deeper Learning in Leadership, the growing and deeper understanding of our purpose in work and in life may not always be understood. However, trusting our intuition and being patient as the purpose emerges makes all the difference. I know that I have pushed at earlier points of life to do things that, in retrospect, may not have been a good fit for the grand plan of my life. The consolation is that even the detours taught me important lessons that I've ultimately incorporated into who I am. I don't always remember the lessons and I don't always actualize the things I know are right, but I'm getting closer. "Progress not perfection" is a mantra for people who struggle with various addictions in life. Maybe progress, not perfection, is a pretty good philosophy for us all and it may just capture a core truth of life's experience...

Museum of Islamic Art

One of the most amazing things about Qatar, and Doha specifically, is that it not only seeks to be an educational and scientific center in the Middle East, it also strives to be a cultural center. The new I.M. Pei Museum of Islamic Art (picture to left) is set to open in the near future and is reported to hold the most significant collection of Islamic art ever assembled. The Pei-designed museum reaches out into the Gulf and shimmers in the twilight of day or evening lights of the city. It is a stunning place and one that is likely to set the art world afire with reviews.

Another thing I heard, which has my juices pumping, is that Qatar is about to launch recruitment and selection for a Qatar national orchestra to have its home in Doha. Ads will run in major cities around the world inviting orchestral musicians to audition for this new, phenomenal ensemble.

Before you know it, Doha will have a world-renowned museum and who knows what will happen with the orchestra. You can count on my being there!

Qatar - 2nd visit

As I prepare to move to Qatar, I'm doing lots of things like filing visa papers, doing medical exams and treatments, trying to figure out what I'll take and what I'll leave behind. All of these are gradual steps on the path to my November 4 departure to the Arabian Gulf. They don't feel overwhelming yet but I know that the clock is ticking.

I was in Qatar for most of last week. I went over to get more deeply acquainted with colleagues and to get some things started in preparation for November. If I didn't have things to tie up in Ohio, I probably would have sent for my personal things and not returned. There are many things that I want to still savor but my thoughts keep drifting to the opportunities ahead. Don't get me wrong, I don't seek to walk away from anything; it's just that there is so much to look forward to discovering. Most of that discovery is in understanding new perspectives and people and in seeing ideas I've believed so deeply come to fruition. I'll share a couple of examples.

A surprise rediscovery in myself is realizing that my childhood and undergraduate focus has come back to front and center in my life - music. As I continued to get more acquainted with colleagues, particularly faculty who serve in administrative roles in the branch campuses of Education City, I have found artistic connections with literally every one of them. In some cases it has been sharing joy in a favorite composer, in other cases it has been seeing music as a pathway to learning. The Dean at Georgetown saw the arts as a gateway to understanding world politics. The Dean of VCU saw music as a stimulus to break-through creativity in design. Not only am I glad that I've maintained my musical commitments over my lifetime, I now realize that music (or any art) makes us educated, interesting, and culturally competent to converse with others. Regardless of what I studied in my advance degrees, it is my undergraduate degree in music that created more connections than anything.

Another moment of awakening occurred when I asked for names of staff who might be interested and available to work on planning a retreat for our staff. I'm used to having to work to identify a diverse group of people who reflect the breadth of cultural perspectives in an organization. At the Qatar Foundation, I simply asked for 3-4 people and received suggestions for professionals from Brazil, Qatar, Jordan, and the U.S.A. They are all of different backgrounds, perspectives, and talents and we're all right there to work with and learn from each other. The struggles we have in diversity in the U.S.A. are usually about getting people to the table; the opportunity of diversity at the Qatar Foundation will be meshing our various voices for positive change.

The last example was one that really stunned me. I was talking to a Qatari woman who wanted to work with the Faculty and Student Services area. She wanted to have the opportunity to pursue advanced graduate education and then to work for the Foundation. I started off by asking her what she had in mind. I'm convinced that she initially thought that she had to give me the answer I wanted. However, something called me to ask her what she really cared about. She immediately lit up with excitement and started talking about writing books for children that would teach them the importance of leadership, and teaching them that they are capable of leadership. Hearing her real passion allowed us to connect and to pursue something that she really could do for Qatar Foundation that would make a real difference. I can hardly wait to return to see her proposal which is likely to include working with college students who will work with youth to help them understand the importance of high quality education and the need to prepare themselves for leadership.

These examples are about what we bring to this moment (perhaps our latent talents), how we tap the potential of all those around us, and how we dig down deep to find something we really care about. Combining these three things are simple, concrete examples of the "Deeper Leadership" model I espouse in my book. Discovering leadership potential isn't magical; it's just a matter of looking within and nurturing the insights that are already in most of us. I have a feeling that my work in Qatar is going to be filled with such examples.

Blurring boundaries

I've had several experiences that have been rolling around in my head for the last couple of weeks and they just came together this morning. The first experience was on August 17, 2007 - Miami's new student convocation day. We had David Eggers, author of What is the What on campus to speak to all our new students about Sudan and the child-refugees who fled due to the violence that has gripped their country. The second experience was ordering a piece of music that I've wanted for quite some time - Ellis Island by Peter Boyer. The final experience has been the process I'm undergoing to obtain my visa to work abroad in Qatar for the next three years. I'll explain how they connect...

What is the What was a fascinating book - at least from my perspective. Although written by Eggers, the story is that of Valentino who walked through the deserts of Sudan and Ethiopia to pursue a life free of fear, intimidation, and deprivation. Alex, one of Valentino's childhood friends, was also present at Convocation and told of walking across the desert without food, poorly clothed, and in fear of being captured. Both Valentino's (as told in the book) and Alex's stories were more than any of us in the audience could ever imagine in terms of hardship. After listening to these heart-rending stories, faculty and staff led discussion groups with new students. I had a group of about twenty-five men and women. I opened by having them introduce themselves as we got started but, instead of just saying who they were, I asked them to comment by alternating between a. What excited you today, and b. What troubled you today? The responses that troubled students were most telling - didn't like getting up so early, too hot, couldn't find the discussion group meeting room...

I've heard excerpts from Ellis Island by Peter Boyer numerous times on the radio. I've always been moved by it but never got around to purchasing it until last week. It arrived from Amazon and I ripped into it, taking it to my basement where I have a 70s-vintage sound system to die for (it really is extraordinary). Hearing this music for the first time was almost more than I could bear. It is a combination of symphonic interludes punctuated by brief statements of the real-life experiences of immigrants who came to the U.S.A. through Ellis Island. In case you are American and didn't realize it, 40% of Americans today had relatives who came through Ellis Island in the early 20th century. The music and stories tell of the hope of coming to America and the strife of crossing in boats, enduring illness and poor living conditions, and arriving in America to begin their new lives. The stories aren't always positive but they are all triumphant.

I've discovered that applying for my visa to work in Qatar is an exercise in empathy. Although I've been working on it for over two weeks and spending most of my spare time trying to understand the nuance of how to do this, I realize that, in many ways, my process is so easy and well lubricated by privilege. I can hardly imagine trying to obtain a visa if I really needed it for economic or political reasons and I had no system of coaching and the means (privilege) to get it done. I will get my visa and I don't really have to worry about being denied so my experience with applying for the visa is little more than an inconvenience - rather than a matter of life and death (Sudan) or economic desperation (20th century immigrants to the U.S.A.).

These three experiences spurred me to question what isn't working about our world. Why is it that America can be a nation almost entirely composed of immigrants with 40% knowing the stories of hardship of their immigrant parents or grand-parents, yet be so eager to close the borders in order to control the population and its corner on privilege? How can citizens of the U.S.A. be so unaware of the struggles of many people around the globe - Colombia, Darfur, Sudan, Iraq... And, how can we complain about getting up too early or being uncomfortably hot or not understanding the visa application process when we want to travel, study, or work abroad?

It's all about perspective - where we came from, understanding and empathizing with others, opening ourselves to know the world in which we live. The coming months will no doubt stimulate much more reflection about perspective and I look forward to sharing that with you and hearing your thoughts as well.

All sheets to the wind...

Have you ever heard the phrase "...all sheets (or three-sheets) to the wind?" Although the three-sheets image is used in reference to a variety of things, the term all or three-sheets to the wind actually comes from sailing. A sailor's dream and greatest exhiliration is when the wind is strong, but not overwhelming, and when the sails (i.e. sheets) are all out into the wind. It is in these moments when the efficiency of the sails, the boat, and the sailors are all at their peak - truly exhilirating.

Well, I've decided that Qatar is probably my "all sheets to the wind" time. Since I announced the decision to join the Qatar Foundation staff on Monday morning, I've had moments when I felt very confident and others when I pondered the possibility that I was over-running the capacity of my boat. Then I revert back to the fact that everyone who works for the Qatar Foundation and Education City is "all sheets to the wind" and how incredible it will be to join them.

One of the other things that I've realized over the last couple of days is that, besides my "all sheets to the wind" experience, I have become a quintessential example of Deeper Learning in Leadership. It's actually kind of scarey because I feel that something happened as I conceived of and wrote the book. It transformed and clarified my thinking in ways that made me aware that maybe there was more than I'm presently doing to make a difference through higher education. And, like the "calling forth" of the presence experience (which I describe in Deeper Learning in Leadership), new awareness emerged, I began to talk and write about it, and it eventually took form in the Qatar Foundation possibility and decision. I don't mean to become overly mystical, spiritual or abstract but this really was profound. I think the process of seeing, sensing, presencing, and now beginning to enact are what has been happening.

Commitment to change and off to Qatar

As you've noticed in my blog and as those of you have interacted with me lately have noticed, I've been talking about Doha, Qatar, and Education City a lot lately. I started talking about it when my daughter, Darbi, chose to take a job there working with one of the branches of Education City - Carnegie Mellon University. We put her on the plane on Sunday night, August 5, 2007, to begin her new life in the Arabian Gulf. We had to gulp when we sent her off but we know it will be an incredible experience for her. When I graduated from Colorado State University in 1973 and moved to Maryland, I thought I was taking a big jump in going so far from home - I wasn't even close to what Darbi is doing but she is like many young people today - boundariless in so many ways.

Darbi has committed herself to change and now I find that I will as well. Our decisions have been completely independent but we're ending up in the same place - Doha, Qatar. After thirteen years at Miami, I will leave this fall to join the Qatar Foundation as Assistant Vice President of Education for Faculty and Student Services. The Qatar Foundation "educates citizens who will participate fully in the nation's emerging democratic processes and engage respectfully, confidently, and constructively with people from other countries and cultures." I will work with faculty and student services for the current six branch campuses (Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Georgetown, Northwestern, Texas A&M, and Virginia Common Wealth) and the others to come. It seems unimaginable to have such an extraordinary opportunity and I have to keep pinching myself to make sure it's for real. The great surprise is that I thought I would remain at Miami but I always said that if something extraordinary should ever come along, I would consider it. And, did it ever?!

My future work at Education City will be focused on contributing to a campus culture that is holistic, diverse, connected, innovative, and is purposely visioned to transform the lives of students and of the Arabian Gulf region. Student affairs work as we've come to know it in most institutions in the U.S.A. has become hampered by bureaucracy, administrative divisions, and structures that inhibit the real purpose of this work - enhancing community that creates deeper learning for all. Education City is composed of branch campuses, each of which embraces the responsibility for creating high quality learning for students. My role with the Qatar Foundation will allow me to work with and through others, providing necessary resources and processes, and engaging in the necessary and catalytic work that will create learning opportunities for students, staff, and faculty. The ideas we will use in Qatar haven't even been dreamt as yet; I will work with colleagues to make up what this extraordinary place will be.

As the months unfold, I will continue to blog on the Qatar Foundation experience. The theme of the blog, "Pursuing Leadership," will necessarily be my continuing focus. I will be pursuing a type of leadership that is truly informed by 21st century issues and I will learn with my new colleagues as I take on this new challenge. I will also pursue cultural learning, travel, and adaptation I've never had the chance to do before - a true commitment to challenge myself. Come back and follow this continuing journey and engage with me as I discover. As a starter, you might want to learn a little more about Doha and Education city - amazing things are happening.

As a side-note, I would like to acknowledge and express my appreciation to my wife, Diane, for supporting me in this amazing venture. She is my lifetime partner and love; when we committed to provide each other space to be and do what we were called to be, I never imagined it would allow the expanses to which we've gone. My daughters are role models and enthusiasts all the way. Some of my friends and colleagues have not been as surprised at my decision to move as I expected; the irony is that evidently my family and some of my colleagues saw the yearning that I could not see - something yet more challenging to fulfill what has already been a deeply rewarding career. I appreciate all your support while the possibilities ripened and I will be forever indebted to the colleagues from whom I've learned and who will continue to be part of the global network that is now binding us all together.

Vacation and realizations

I left Oxford for vacation on June 30 and returned last Monday, July 16. During the two weeks away, I checked e-mail occasionally but I tried to stay as separated from work as possible. I guess I should attribute my success in staying away from work to the fact that our vacation schedule was almost as busy as my work life. The result - lots of fun and fulfillment but not much rest.


We started off our vacation in Washington, D.C. We had intended to arrive in Washington on July 4th to see the celebration on the mall. We arrived too late to make it to the mall but could see many fireworks in the area as we drove toward our hotel in Arlington, Virginia. Over the next several days, we attend the Folk Life Festival on the mall, went to the new Smithsonian American Indian Museum, ate at all our old favorite hang-outs, went to the National Cathedral and the National Shrine, visited the Baltimore Inner Harbor, and went to Annapolis to see the Naval Academy and eat at St. Michael's Island. These were all very fun and helped us to celebrate the history and tradition of the Chesapeake Bay and the birth of our nation. All in all, it was awe inspiring to be reminded of what the immigrants to the colonies risked and accomplished in the days before and during the American Revolution. We were also reminded (particularly through the American Indian Museum) of how much was sacrificed among the native people's of North America.

I concluded the Washington touring in order to participate in the 10th anniversary reunion of the group (fondly called the Ensemble) that created the Social Change Model of Leadership Development. This group included such illustrious personalities as Alexander and Helen Astin, Susan Komives, and others. It was great fun to conclude that the Social Change Model has made a mark on higher education leadership learning and that there is still work to do. The group committed to a couple of initiatives that will continue to draw attention to this model. While I met with this group, Diane and Darbi completed more touring. We did conclude it all together over a wonderful dinner with the Ensemble and significant others. I thought I would explode seeing Darbi engage with Helen Astin on the importance of engagement in learning and the emerging emphasis on spirituality in higher education.

We returned to Oxford to do laundry and get ready for a quick trip to Chicago to see Devin and Steve.Chicago has as much to offer as Washington so we dug in again. We went to the Millennium Plaza Chicago Symphony concert of Beethoven and Gershwin, toured the "Cool Globes" along the harbor that serve to educate about global warming, ate at more great restaurants, and attended our first Chicago Cubs game (in the bleachers section, no less).

This vacation was in partial celebration of Darbi's conclusion of her undergraduate years at Carnegie Mellon and her launch into the world of work in her new role at Education City in Doha, Qatar. This remarkable institution promises to make a worldwide statement about the Arabian Gulf region, about the importance of investing in the public good, and about creating learning environments that transform people and places. More to come on this one in later posts...

This particular post doesn't seem earth shaking in any important way. However, I wanted to reflect on what I saw and did over the last couple of weeks. My connection to family was renewed, the importance of understanding history and place was reinforced, and the wonder of how diverse and blended cultures creates a world more interesting than I could ever have imagined was raised to a new level. When I say "more interesting than I could ever have imagined" I'm coming from a middle-class background in Boulder, Colorado, in the 1960s. I thought Boulder was a wonderful and interesting place then but I could never in all my years have anticipated what I saw and did during the last two-three weeks. Note to self - don't be surprised at what you discover when you let the wind blow you to new boundaries and horizons.

Bonded and open - Gamma Phi Beta

Last Friday, June 22, 2007, I was invited to do a workshop for a group of volunteer advisors for Gamma Phi Beta national sorority. A friend from LeaderShape, Kris, was kind enough to invite me to participate. The topic was understanding and working with Millennial-era students. When I started preparation for the workshop, I had a rough time. It was difficult because I view these sweeping generational stereotypes as many times very marginalizing and unfair. In my own thinking, I see some of the trends that are associated with Millennials but much of my own contact and experience contradicts it. I also struggled in preparation because generational understanding isn't an area in which I would generally claim much expertise.

That said, this workshop with the Gamma Phis was one of the most fun I've had in a long time. The group was about 100 women from throughout the U.S.A. Their responsiveness was simply unbelievable - hence the label of this post. As I came to know this group better, it became very clear that they knew each other well, had a great deal of fun, and were bonded in common purpose. Yet, they embraced me so easily and made the task of facilitating almost effortless. From the moment I stepped to the microphone until my closing comments 2 hours later, they were with me. I don't think I've ever been able to engage a group for that long and it had nothing to do with me. It was all about their enthusiasm for each other and their commitment to their task - working with, serving, and drawing forth the best from collegiate women today. Not only were they impressive in their relationships and purposes, the Gamma Phis demonstrated that groups that are tightly bonded can also be very welcoming to others who are outside their number - a lesson that many bonded organizations might want to cultivate.

I started my work with this group by saying that I was not an expert in Millennials but that I assumed they were. Then we went on to brainstorm ideas they had about Millennials, to which I compared some of the current research. We also went on to the "so what" question of how to respond in ways that demonstrate empathy for Millennials' characteristics, questions and concerns. The conversation eventually moved to my passion - leadership. I explored with them whether or not Gamma Phi Beta, or any other sorority for that matter, is really taking young women's leadership learning seriously. The response was a pretty resounding, "No." For whatever reason, there just hasn't been the focus in sorority circles on ideas about contemporary leadership and what these organizations can do to distinguish themselves as places that really foster 21st century leadership. The "Conviction in Action" definition I advocate seemed to ring true for many of the women with whom I talked over lunch. It really is about helping young people find something they care about and then providing the opportunity, development, and coaching/mentoring to call forth their own leadership potential.

I got a very positive feeling that Gamma Phi Beta may really try to tackle the leadership question within sororities. My observation and challenge is not a criticism, it is a call to work that desperately needs to be done. Collegiate women's leadership is a vast resource that could be addressed if sororities would make it a priority - a very interesting prospect...

Welcome the wind

I attended Pentecost services at Shadyside Presbyterian Church this last Sunday, 5-27-07. We were in Pittsburgh visiting Darbi and attended services hoping to hear Dr. Craig Barnes who we always enjoy. He never disappoints...

Pentecost is part of the Christian liturgical year. Depending on the denomination, it may not receive that much attention. I've grown more fascinated with the idea of Pentecost through the years because it presents an image that draws diverse voices together in search of spiritual meaning. As the Bible indicates (Acts 2:2), "And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind..." Dr. Barnes described several Biblical examples of rushing and violent winds - the wind over the water that stirred the act of creation, the wind that parted the sea in order for the Israelites to pass into safety from Egypt, the wind that tore the Temple assunder after Jesus' crucifixion. In these cases, and in most of our human experiences, mighty winds are freightening but are often followed by peace and tranquility that brings new light and insight to us. This is the wind that creates, the spirit that blows into our lives most unexpectedly, and the turmoil that opens new opportunity.

The idea of the potential for Pentecost is noted in many spiritual traditions. In these various traditions, we are almost always promised that the struggle of life will bring a new, fresh, and more adequate tomorrow. Although it is hard to believe that these moments are for our own and others' good, the rushing wind, the disorienting trauma, the startling realization bring insights and opportunities we never imagined possible.

Pentecost literally is the celebration of fifty days after Easter. Two millenia ago, these fifty days were likely a period of time that allowed the disciples of Christ to become accustomed to the fact that they had witnessed an extraordinary moment in time. Yet, in order to bear witness to their own learning and transformation, they had to learn how to engage with each other across language, culture, and experience. They had to be transformed and be willing to transform the world in which they lived.

This sermon was typical of Dr. Barnes; he always stirs deeper questions in me. The conclusion of this sermon was something like, "If you seek safety, find a tomb. If you seek to live life fully, welcome the wind." What a statement of the power of spirit in our lives and what a call to leadership. The paraphrase of leadership implications could be, "If you seek safety in life, follow others who will protect you and lull you into passivity. If you seek to live fully, welcome the wind that brings creativity to life's experiences, provides the opportunity to hear the voices of others whose language you've never understood, and draws you into sharing the complexity of leadership that draws the best from all."

Broadening the boundaries of inclusion

I just returned from my annual LeaderShape Institute at Allerton Park this last Sunday night, May 20, 2007. What an amazing week... It turned out to be a holding environment that I've seldom seen matched before. A vessel for exploration of very big and potentially life-changing questions.

Carla and I shared Lead with six terrific Cluster Facilitators (Janie, Jess, Patrick, Shailen, Susan, and Tom), and sixty-one participants from all over the country and beyond. To be honest, this was one of the more challening Institutes I've had for a while (interesting since this is the decade anniversary of the first time I led). The reason it was difficult has nothing to do with good or bad conditions, participants, or anything else. The reason was that this Institute pushed boundaries of inclusion I'd never considered before - political and regional.

I can't remember having participants from so many political and regional backgrounds. We had very conservative students coupled with very liberal. We had every corner of the country, with an especially prominent delegation of students from Ole' Miss. Ole' Miss is an institution that has long had the reputation of being a quintessential southern institution. Even though it is perceived by many to represent the status quo, it was one the first universities in the south to admit women and to integrate Black students. The students from Ole' Miss faced conservative stereotypes in the same way that students from other institutions face liberal ones. At one point in the week, I met with a delegation to explore what they were thinking and feeling only to find that they felt silenced and unable to speak honestly and openly about their beliefs. I don't know the degree to which this perception was real or perceptual; it doesn't really matter. The point is that they felt that they could not be open and this restricted their ability to participate.

The dynamics of the week were often very difficult. The beauty of it was that, despite the struggle, the participants stuck with each other, confronted one another when appropriate, and ended up affirming each other, even though it was clear that deep differences still remained. The students from other cultural backgrounds were as gracious and willing to participate as I've every seen. This openness resulted in everyone being able to take risks that otherwise would never have been possible. The supportiveness of students from multi-cultural backgrounds supported the journey of those with more traditional upbringing. The traditional students took the risk to own their own beliefs and to share them with others, allowing for exchanges that would be rare under most circumstances. With the exception of only a couple of students who simply were not ready for such a stretch, the participants fully gave of themselves to explore and discover both the difference and sameness that we share.

I learned a great deal during the week, as I always do. The most important aspect of this was to recognize that inclusion embraces very conservative political views, people who have had privileged and isolating life experiences, and participants from every possible faith tradition. I've known this at an intellectual level before but I've never really known it in my heart like I do after last week. I am so thankful to the participants who made it possible for us all to learn these amazing lessons. These lessons will transform many lives. I actually think that the unfolding experience for many of this Institute's students is only just beginning.

The paradox of great leadership - audacity and humility

This weekend is commencement weekend for Miami University. That means that I'm offering a lot of farewells that don't feel all that great. There are some graduates from Miami (both Masters College Student Personnel and undegraduates) who I will miss dearly in the coming weeks and months. As I say farewell to some of these incredible people, my belief is that the depth of our relationship will stand the test of time and that this farewell is only temporary.



The graduates who I will most miss are those who I've come to realize reflect a profound paradox. They are at the same time full of audacity but also of humility. These two words probably don't cross your mind as dwelling comfortably in one person. However, when it comes to leadership, they fit quite nicely and, perhaps, they are necessary paradoxes that must co-exist in those who seek to transform themselves and others through leadership. Having audacity is dreaming so big that others may perceive the vision as grandiose or impractical. While there are those who will criticize people with big dreams, these visionaries are, indeed, the only ones who will help us transcend the present. They can see a different and better world and they are not bashful to proclaim it. On the flip side of the paradox is humility. Those who captivate me most are those who have big dreams but who reflect a deep humility, not fake or dismissive, that recognizes the greatness of compelling ideas. These humble individuals know that their ideas are not theirs alone, but that they are the ideas of legions of others who are afraid to claim them. It seems to me that this kind of humility sees the future while at the same time engaging others in respectful and empowering ways that brings the future into the present.

Today I postponed the journey I share with these special individuals (you know who you are) who graduated from Miami today. They have the audacity to dream and the humility to strive with others to bring about a better world. It's been a profound and wonderful time sharing this space with you and I look forward to the broader journey you now embrace...

Deeper Learning in Leadership - coming to fruition

The time when Deeper Learning in Leadership will be published is coming ever closer. It is now posted on Amazon for pre-purchase. It's exciting beyond belief to actually have a book cover and all the contents (including Lena and Sandy Astin's foreword) back to be processed for page proofs. The next step is review of the proofs at the end of the month. The projected real publication date is late September.

I've continued to reflect on the message I sought to send with Deeper Learning in Leadership. Every once in a while, I get a chill up my spine that there will be those who will take exception with one of the primary arguments - that our institutional models may be undermining our ability to achieve the deeper leadership that our institutions, businesses, and communities need. At the same moment I hesitate, I am struck by the constant evidence that our institutions are not sending the messages and modeling the kind of leadership that our world so desperately needs.

Matching our thought and actions seems always to be one of the greatest challenges organizations face. In the particular case of leadership learning, it seems that we have no choice but to engage as deeply as we can so that our graduates are prepared for the changing, challenging, and chaotic world of the future. We need responsive, creative, and wise leadership to create a future for citizens around the globe. The stakes are high and the opportunities are great.

Sacred intrusion

I'm sure it has become abundantly clear that I am attracted to succint and provocative phrases. When they fly through my consciousness, they are like stunningly beautiful birds that I try to savor. The unfortunate part is that they are frequently gone before I have the chance to lock them in my memory. My only hope is to lunge for a piece of scrap paper so that I can go back to study it later, turn it around, and explore its deeper meaning.

Such was the case again when we attended Easter Sunday services in Pittsburgh with our daughter this last weekend. The sermon was delivered by Dr. Craig Barnes and was titled "Leaving the Dead." The image was of how startling it must have been when the tomb was empty three days after Christ's crucifixion. "But,..." he said. "But,..." "But,..." Dr. Barnes noted that frequently the Bible uses "But,..." as a sacred intrusion into our conventional or previous way of seeing our world. This sacred instrusion provided the opportunity to cease seeing our lives as a horizontal succession of events, but, instead as a vertical experience of recognizing that we are not really in control of any of our experiences. This vertical experience allows us to realize that we live our lives only as a gift, informed by an unfolding awareness of who we are and shaped by the role God intends for us to play.

I know that this post is theologically based but, regardless of your religious views, it may well deserve your consideration. If you are intrigued by this snippit of an explanation, you really should check the Shadyside Presbyterian Church sermon archives for a full copy of Dr. Barnes remarks. Suffice it to say, living a life punctuated by "But,..." is a bit unsettling but as I have attempted to understand it, this punctuation may just be the kind of sacred intrusion that keeps us alive and connected to our being.

Ripples and networks

The ACPA/NASPA Convention in Orlando was pretty amazing - 9,500 people from throughout the U.S.A. and with significant international representation as well. The convention was a combination of keynote speakers, workshops, presentations, meetings, and lots of opportunity to meet and network with colleagues. The deepest satisfaction at this point in my life is renewing contact with valued colleagues. I started the conference with treasured doctoral colleagues from my Maryland days - Linda and Ron. Then I moved to colleagues in the Senior Scholars group of ACPA - faculty and senior administrators attempting to push the boundaries of knowledge in student learning. I checked in with younger colleagues who are either moving through doctoral study (Chad) or are moving into the formative years of their careers (Tracy). And, I spent time with more recent Miami grads such as Erin, Laura, Dave, Julie, and Matt. All of these encounters reinforced the critical importance of building and renewing relationships over time and space. When it all comes down to the core and most important things in life, it's about the ripples of our lives and the networks that sustain us.

I was particularly touched during this convention by a couple of former Miami students. These students, one in particular, approached me to remind me who she was. In a hallway on my way to another destination, she looked at me and I at her. After realizing that I visually recognized her, she started, "Do you remember who I am?" Then she said, "I'm Felicia, a former Miami student." She went on to describe her work and how much she loved student affairs. She closed by saying that she wanted me to know that, while she was an undergraduate, she was watching - watching to see who loved their work and seemed to be making a difference. It was this observation that drew her to student affairs and a very fulfilling place in life. Who would have thought that encounters of chance could shape another person's life like this.

Beyond renewing relationships, the programs were also very informative. Former Vice President Al Gore provided a live "Inconvenient Truth" lecture. Dr. Benjamin Carson spoke on aspiration, accountability to ourselves and others, and seeking to do all that we can with the opportunities that come our way. I had the chance to present on Deeper Learning in Leadership to a group of over 200. This was particularly fun because we started by generating ideas about what we've accomplished in 30 years of leadership learning and the gaps that now need to be filled. After I presented, two reactors provided comments that deepened the concepts I presented while also addressing the gaps that were identified by others. The most rewarding feedback came from those who recognized the critical importance of going deeper in our advocacy for leadership and who saw the possibility of doing this through combining presence, flow, and oscillation in putting their conviction into action.

The key is creating ripples through our many relationships, especially in those where we have no clue we are having an impact. Note to self - who is watching and modeling the actions that I assume have little impact at all?