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Take Me to Your Leaders
By Lacey Clay
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Directed by Dr. Connie Sjoberg, whose own leadership pedigree is impressive (resident advisor, head resident advisor, residence hall director, assistant dean of women, dean of women--all at ORU), the Leadership Academy is designed to cultivate leaders on ORU's campus, to create a culture of leadership that promotes growth in all students in the areas of knowledge, skill, wisdom, character, and spirit.
The foundation of the Leadership Academy is cemented in the belief that all Christians are called to be leaders. Taking a page from J. Oswald Sanders' book, Spiritual Leadership, in which he says, "Leadership is influence," the academy also proclaims that Christians are called to influence others.
Dr. Sjoberg points out that today, ORU graduates are all over the world, exercising influence in areas such as business, medicine, education, missions, and technology. The Leadership Academy was created to assist students in developing their God-given leadership ability, so that they too can go out into the world and affect lives for His kingdom.
In the days to come, the Leadership Academy will offer several avenues for personal and leadership maturity...at no cost to students. Sjoberg envisions classes, seminars, activities, workshops, and mentoring relationships. A Web site, http://leadershipacademy.oru.edu, is now up. Plans are also being laid to implement a program of referring new students to other organizations on campus where they can get plugged in and become active members of the campus society. Right now, however, the most visible (and largest) activity offering opportunities for leadership training is the Ignite Conference.
Ignite is a student-organized leadership conference, now in its third year. This year, Ignite came under the umbrella of the Leadership Academy, but is still completely organized and directed by student leaders. During the February 1-5 event, students on campus had the opportunity to immerse themselves in leadership development sessions with people who know what successful leadership is all about.
The three days leading up to the actual conference were part of what was called Leadership Emphasis Week. One of the key speakers was ORU alumnus Dr. Tim Elmore, who has been mentored by bestselling author and renowned leadership authority Dr. John Maxwell. Dr. Elmore is the president of Growing Leaders, and vice president of leadership development for EQUIP, both in Atlanta, Ga. Elmore conducted four sessions on Feb. 2, speaking to classes, in chapel, to the faculty, and to student leaders.
Sjoberg has a goal for the Leadership Academy and Ignite. She hopes that they will "create a leadership culture on this campus where we are known to the entire nation as a college who develops leaders." She also wants leadership development to become commonplace on campus. Before that can happen, however, students must realize that leadership comes from within, and that it can't be dictated to them. "The students are the ones who will apply expectations on each other. It can't be done by anyone on the outside telling them what they are going to do."
Because the Leadership Academy is in a fledgling stage, funding is a very important aspect. In 2004, the ORU Alumni Foundation donated $3,000 to help get the program up and running. Sjoberg is applying for a grant for leadership programs, which could be used to fund future staff and interns for the program.
The philosophy of the Leadership Academy can be summed up in five words: All students are potential leaders. And no matter where those students wind up after graduation, the leadership skills they learn at ORU will make them more effective in reaching the world for Christ.
For more information on the Leadership Academy, contact Dr. Sjoberg at 918-495-6094, csjoberg@oru.edu, leadershipacademy@oru.edu, or 918-495-6388 (fax).
