WVU Parkersburg launches campus Leadership Academy.

CONTACT: Dr. Rhonda Richards, executive dean of academic affairs, 304-424-8242.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

West Virginia University at Parkersburg has launched a Leadership Academy to encourage its students, faculty and staff to develop and nurture their leadership capacities.

The first 15-member Leadership class is currently participating in a 15-hour program of workshop sessions which will culminate in a class project.

“We value leadership. The Academy provides an excellent opportunity for us to ‘grow our own’ and encourage leadership capacity building,” said Marie Foster Gnage, president of WVU Parkersburg.

To kick off the launch of the leadership initiative, the Academy invited David Hardesty, president emeritus of West Virginia University, to make a presentation on “Ten Characteristics of Highly Effective Organizations” to the campus community.

“The mission of the Leadership Academy is to foster the acquisition, development, and application of leadership skills among faculty, students, and staff of WVU-P to empower them as individuals to realize their life-long potential,” Rhonda Richards, executive dean of academic affairs, noted.

The Academy’s curriculum is centered around the five themes of Kouzes and Posner’s work in leadership described in their book “The Leadership Challenge.”

Serving as director of the Leadership Academy is retired YMCA executive Bob D’Avria.

“This is an exciting opportunity to be involved in the college’s academy and share effective leadership practices with the participants,” he said. “The class is enthusiastic and the curriculum is designed in such a way that we will all gain valuable lessons from the experience.”

Members of the 2008 Leadership Class include Patsy Bee, Dina Braniff, Rodney Parker, Christine Post, all staff; David Cumberledge, Mindy Eaton, Theolora Goff, Kelly Roy, Michelle Sturm, Courtney Watson and Amanda Whitlow, all students, and Dianne Davis, Cindy Gissy, W. Truman Long and Nelson Ortiz, all faculty.

As part of the development of the Academy, a Center for Leadership Development has been designed in an adjacent space to the college’s Library with community assistance from area businesses. Those contributing to the center include Davis Pickering & Company, Parkersburg Office Supply, ProComm, Inc., and State Electric Supply Co.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to officially open the center and thank the contributors.

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For additional information, contact:
Connie Dziagwa
WVU Parkersburg
Executive Director
Institutional Advancement
(304-424-8203, Office)
(304-424-8315, Fax)

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