School of Leadership and Professional Advancement
Tomorrow’s Leaders Today
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Contents
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Dean’s Message From the beginning, the School of Leadership and
Professional Advancement (SLPA) has understood the importance of
developing and supporting strong, ethical leadership in a modern
world. We have built on this belief through the creation of new
programs, the pursuit of new initiatives, and a focus on emerging
new ideas, research and perspectives. This past year, along with
our faculty, staff, students, alumni, clients and community
partners, we have acknowledged achievements, been recognized for
our work with veterans and celebrated milestones. We
welcomed back alumni, forged new connections and came together to
support philanthropic pursuits. As a result, our greatest successes
have come from collaborations and partnerships. It is the strength
of these relationships that continue to propel us forward and help
us make a positive impact in not only the boardrooms across the
country, but within the backyards of our communities. As a member
of this community, you are invited to explore these pages and
celebrate our commitment to furthering the understanding, the
practice and the development of leadership for the betterment of
individual leaders and for their communities.
Dr. Dorothy Bassett, Dean
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Leadership Development At the Leadership Breakfast Series more than
600 members of the local business community learned how to make
positive contributions and/or changes to their organizations.
Topics ranged from Leading Organization Change to Leading in a
Global Environment.
Advancing Leadership For the first time, undergraduate students in
the Humane Leadership program presented their research at
Duquesne’s annual Undergraduate Student Research Symposium. They
discussed scholarship with faculty, staff and peers, applied
classroom knowledge and gained greater confidence in presenting in
a professional setting. This venue provided a shared space where
student ideas were discussed, generated, analyzed and
explored.
Lynne Walicki (left) and Dean Dorothy Bassett at the Undergraduate
Research Student Symposium.
In this interactive Breakfast Series workshop, participants learned
to structure interactions to improve effectiveness.
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SLPA team members gathered to discuss and plan the new Leadership
Challenge Certificate.
Members of the SLPA team, Dr. James Ulrich, David McGeehan and Mark
Prestopnik collaborated to create the online Faculty Resource
Center.
Progressive Leaders To prepare our students to be better leaders in
a better world, we not only took inventory of our current offerings
but of new perspectives, trends and ideas which can enhance
textural thinking and help leaders navigate an ever changing
business terrain. This led to the creation of a new Leadership
Challenge Certification (LCC) program, to be introduced in 2014,
which complements current offerings and provides a new challenge
for leaders looking to take their skills to the next level.
Our Leaders Faculty and staff are always seeking ways to expand
upon their skills and knowledge in order to better benefit those
they serve. This past year, we celebrated the educational
accomplishments of several of our own:
• Academic Advisor Anne Martin and Administrative Assistant Marion
Shannon were both awarded SLPA degrees in August 2013.
• Mark Prestopnik, assistant director of Learning Management,
completed the Certified Faculty Developer Training through LERN.
This certification will enable him to train faculty on how to
design and assess key engagement activities.
Facilitating Leadership • To facilitate leadership, our faculty is
comprised of experienced professionals and industry
leaders who infuse real-world experience in to their lessons. To
assist our faculty, we have launched the Faculty Resource Center,
an online tool that provides faculty instructional support and
materials.
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We Value Veterans
Serving Those Who Have Served Our commitment to supporting veterans
and active servicemen and women is at the core of what we do. Our
understanding of the deeper meaning behind words such as values,
honor, mission and service is why we design programs with members
of the military family in mind. We are proud to work with service
members to help them accomplish their goals and overcome any
educational obstacles that may arise. SLPA was gratified to see the
success of our joint efforts repeatedly acknowledged over the
course of last year.
“
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G.I. Jobs Magazine recognized SLPA in their Military Friendly
Schools list for the fifth year in a row. This annual guide
features the top 20 percent of schools nationwide that deliver the
best experience for military students.
As a yellow ribbon school, SLPA was pleased to have Duquesne ranked
among Top 25 Best Colleges for Veterans by U.S. News & World
Report and included in the Military Advanced Education’s 2013 Guide
to Top Military-Friendly Colleges and Universities.
More than 700 veterans and their guests came together to honor,
remember and celebrate members of the U.S. armed forces at the
annual Veterans Day Breakfast. This on-campus breakfast is one of
the largest in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and its proceeds
benefited the Veterans Leadership Program, Friends of Danang,
Shepherd’s Heart Fellowship and Duquesne University’s Endowed
Veterans Student Resource Fund.
Don Accamando, military program director for SLPA, is instrumental
in helping current and potential military students navigate the
academic process.
Veteran Tuition Calculator (VTC) Through an intense collaboration
with other departments, SLPA developed the Veteran Tuition
Calculator (VTC), an interactive admission tool that enables
prospective military and veteran students to calculate their
estimated college expenses. Since launched in June 2013, the VTC
has been utilized by more than 350 students. This initiative was
recognized by the University when team members were awarded the
Duquesne University’s Team Award at its annual awards
luncheon.
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Staff and friends volunteered at a local food bank.
The DBC held a Pirate’s Day fundraiser to support the Shawn Gearing
Memorial Resource Fund.
The Duquesne Breakfast Club (DBC) is referred to as the volunteer
arm of the School of Leadership. Each year they host various
fundraisers, volunteer at local food banks and sponsor holiday coat
drives for shelters. The DBC serves as a primary resource for
alumni to stay connected with one another and with the Bluff.
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• Each spring, the campus community gathers to honor the life and
service of Marine Sgt. Ryan Lane
who was killed in action in 2009. The Run for Ryan is a
collaborative 5K run/walk sponsored by SLPA in partnership with the
Office of Residence Life and organized by ROTC students. Proceeds
contribute to a scholarship endowment in Ryan’s name that helps a
deserving veteran student defray education expenses at Duquesne. To
date, the effort has exceeded its initial goal and organizers are
looking to maximize scholarship opportunities.
The Run for Ryan
Duquesne.
Don Accamando (left) and the planning team for the Run for
Ryan.
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Our Academic Advisors are sensitive to the needs of
active members of the military and veterans.
Shawn Gearing
Your Advisor, Your Advocate The School of Leadership’s Academic
Advisors are here to support student’s academic success through
programs and resources tailored to their needs. SLPA is recognized
across campus as offering the best student support services.
Advisors care about each individual student and it is evident in
the lengths they go to support and encourage their academic
efforts.
No advisor demonstrated this better than the late Shawn
Gearing.
SLPA recently announced a New Endowed Memorial Fund in honor of
Shawn Gearing. Gearing, a former academic advisor at Duquesne
University who passed away in 2009, is remembered by former
students and colleagues as having understood the financial
hardships faced by those trying to better their lives through
education—conditions often magnified by current economic
challenges. This new fund will be used to assist SLPA students in
securing text books and other educational resources.
Established at $25,000 as a resource fund, the goal is to grow the
endowment to $50,000 then convert it to a scholarship fund capable
of aiding students with financial need. The DBC is recognized as
being the most consistent contributor to the fund.
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Boots: An Older Woman’s Trek to “It’s
Never too Late,” at a special alumni event.
Elizabet Rodriguez Dennehy (left) discussed her new book,
Can You Afford to Ignore Me? How to
Manage Gender and Cultural Differences
at Work, with SLPA friends and alumni.
Experienced, Published Faculty At the School of Leadership,
students learn from the finest educators and with experienced
members of the business community.
Our faculty’s achievements and their commitment to sharing their
knowledge to educate the leaders of tomorrow is just one aspect of
what makes SLPA faculty strong. They are educators dedicated to
helping students fulfill their potential for success, but they are
also scholars and researchers who use their experience to shape our
world.
Last year, we celebrated the literary contributions of two members
of the SLPA community.
• Donna Billings, a former Duquesne adjunct faculty member, past
president of the Pittsburgh Coaches Association and co-founder of
SLPA’s Professional Coach Certificate Program, presented excerpts
from her book, Red and Purple Hiking Boots: An Older Woman’s Trek
to “It’s Never too Late” at a special reception and book signing in
July. Members of the University and local community came together
to network and hear her message about pursuing life’s
passions.
• Elizabet Rodriguez Dennehy, lead faculty for Duquesne’s Women’s
Executive Leadership Program, discussed her new book, Can You
Afford to Ignore Me? How to Manage Gender and Cultural Differences
at Work at a special meet and greet. Her book helps executives at
all corporate levels navigate the complexities of gender and
culture in a global economy.
Audio: Hear an excerpt from Billing’s reading.
2014
Blues
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Alumni Connections A special breakfast was served during Homecoming
in SLPA’s new office building—Libermann Hall. The day included a
tour of the new space, a check presentation to support a The Shawn
Gearing fund, program announcements, good food and a chance for
many friends to reconnect.
The Executive Certificate in Financial Planning Program has served
the Pittsburgh region for over 10 years. In December, SLPA hosted
its annual Certified Financial Planners Connection Event. More than
300 CFP alumni, financial professionals and other guests came
together to network with instructors, students and colleagues. A
special workshop, Professional Ethics for Financial Planners, was
presented for attendees to gain the two hours of Continuing
Education necessary for the CFP® certification renewal.
Dean Dorothy Bassett welcomed the panelists at last year’s
Certified Financial Planners Connection Event.
Nearly 39 percent of those who apply to the School of Leadership do
so based on recommendations from alums and students.
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Today’s Leaders for a Better Tomorrow
Class of 2013 United by a shared belief in the importance of
developing strong, ethical leaders, the School of Leadership and
Professional Advancement was proud to welcome another graduating
class to its already distinguished ranks.
Nearly 200 students graduated from our undergraduate and graduate
degree programs. Students with a concentration in areas such as
Business Ethics and Organizational Leadership entered the world
with the skills needed to make a difference in the marketplace and
in society.
Roughly 125 additional students graduated from the ABA approved
Paralegal Program, the Coach Certification program and Certificate
in Financial Planning course. The Paralegal Institute and
certification programs provide students an opportunity to advance
the skills and education they already possess.
Lynn Walicki, Class of 2013
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It was late one night in Duquesne University’s main administration
building when an HVAC system union contractor finished another long
work shift. Glancing down, he spied a pen inscribed with the words,
‘Duquesne Alumni’ and thought, “I want to be a part of that.” At
that moment Steve Chesney made a personal commitment to himself and
his family to earn a college degree that would empower him to do
more. Several days later, a radio advertisement for the School of
Leadership and Professional Advancement at Duquesne University
reminded Steve of his commitment. He scheduled an appointment with
an advisor to learn more about the school’s programs and enrollment
process and to share his background and career goals and dream of
becoming a lawyer.
Steve’s initial anxieties about starting school and juggling the
responsibilities of work and family faded as he talked with School
of Leadership staff. The school offered programs that provided
flexibility and support, as well as relevant courses that would
help get him to his goal. He took classes on Saturdays, pursing an
undergraduate leadership degree with concentrations in
communication and information technology. There, he found himself
surrounded by classmates like himself, working adults gaining
knowledge and credentials to achieve their professional
aspirations. He also benefited from personal attention from his
advisor and professors.
Steve commented, “The advisor didn’t try to sell the school, but
focused on what was best for me.”
As Steve progressed through his degree program, he realized that he
and his fellow students were taking classes not because they had
to, but because they wanted to. His professors and classmates
shared a great variety of professional and life experiences that
diversified and enriched the learning process.
The advisor didn’t try to sell the school, but focused on what was
best for me.
Degree Programs for Working Adults Help Fulfill Dreams, Change
Lives
Completing his bachelor’s degree was the catalyst for his next
goal. “My experience at the School of Leadership and Professional
Advancement gave me a thirst for education. I wanted more.” He
applied to Duquesne’s School of Law, noting that the School of
Leadership prepared him well for the rigors of law school. His
undergraduate experience, coupled with his own hard work and
dedication, allowed him to attain his dream of becoming a lawyer.
He is now employed as an associate at Meyer, Unkovic & Scott,
LLP.
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Connect with Us! While countless associations are made each year
through School of Leadership programs, special events, webinars,
session and classes, opportunities to stay connected to the SLPA
community through technology are growing each day. We are always
adapting our content to various social media platforms.
Through social media channels, webinars and blog posts, SLPA is
able to quickly share knowledge and connect multiple users. Through
our sites, we have the opportunity to interact with constituents
down the street to those living across the world.
At present our student population is drawn from 33 states and three
counties—Germany, England, Philippines. With such diverse
geographics, a blended framework of communications is needed to
support and nurture leadership growth among our on-campus and
online constituents.
In this past year alone, 10 webinars were broadcast to augment
leadership development and nearly a dozen blog articles published.
Facebook and Twitter sites have grown in popularity and users have
gained access to quick, snippets of information that keep them
informed and connected.
We invite you to join our community of users and get connected
today!
600 Forbes Avenue | Pittsburgh, PA 15282
[email protected] | 412.396.5600 | www.duq.edu/leadership