The Leadership Essentials program, provided collaboratively for the first time by Loyola University Maryland’s Sellinger School of Business and Management and the program’s founding organization, Leadership Howard County (LHC), will begin working on community impact projects this month in Howard County.
The partnership between Loyola and LHC aims to help the program, which was launched in 2007 and has helped more than 100 people grow and evolve.
Both Loyola and Leadership Howard County have a rich history of developing leaders with a strong commitment to building and transforming their communities. Loyola began offering graduate business programs at its Columbia campus more than 30 years ago, and Leadership Howard County has been offering development programs in the area since 1986.
The Program
The six-month program, which is now offered at Loyola’s campus in Columbia, focuses on developing, empowering and connecting emerging leaders to strengthen and transform the community through leadership skill-building and professional and personal coaching, and community impact projects. The 24 participants will contribute to four short-term community impact projects that require them to translate leadership lessons learned into action.
“The community impact projects are something that really piqued our interest when deciding to partner on this program. It is so closely tied to our mission and Loyola’s approach to educating future leaders,” said Ann Attanasio, assistant dean of business programs at the Sellinger School. “Our ability to make an impact in a community where we have a campus and are a big player is meaningful.”
Projects will include work for Humanim, Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks, Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts Inc., and the Department of Citizen Services/Board to Promote Self-Sufficiency. Teams will work on assignments specific to each organization, including researching and designing a mentoring program for professional development and conducting and analyzing a survey to assist in strategic planning for the organization.
First-Hand Experience
Through community impact projects, Leadership Essentials participants build relationships, learn from their peers and acquire first-hand experience in making a difference in Howard County.
“Our service project was to help raise ticket sales on one performance for the Columbia Festival of the Arts. As a group, we were able to come up with many ideas for advertising to increase attendance. It was very interesting to see all of the work and dedication that it takes to bring the festival to fruition,” said Shannon Boswell, portfolio relationship manager and assistant vice president, Howard Bank, and a member of the Leadership Essentials Class of 2011.
The program runs from January to June of each year. If you are interested in applying, please contact Emilia Varga at leadership@loyola.edu. Additional information can be found on the Sellinger School’s web site: www.loyola.edu/sellinger.
