Experiential Learning in Action - DBU Students Travel to Washington, D.C. to study Leadership in the Lives of the Founding Fathers

Just a couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of co-teaching a course with Dr. Adam Wright, DBU Vice President and Dean of our School of Leadership, that looked at leadership in the lives of our nation's Founding Fathers. What made this class unique was that it was developed as an experiential learning course where we took a group of 20 students to Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia. The trip was an amazing experience where we were able to dive deeply into the leadership of the Founding Fathers, and it allowed us the opportunity to study leadership in the midst of sites that played a pivotal role in our nation's history.

Here is a short video showing some of the experiences students had on the trip:

Here are just a few of the pictures that we took on the trip, with explanations of what we saw, and the leaders we had the chance to learn from:

Students had the opportunity to hear from a variety of leaders, including: Henry Deneen (pictured above), High-Level Administrator for the National Prayer Breakfast; Jim Kuhn, former Executive Assistant to President Ronald Reagan; Scott Brown, VP for the Christian Leadership Alliance; John Hill, U.S. Attorney's Office; and Emily Davis, DBU Alum and Deputy Communications Director for the American Action Network

Students had the opportunity to sit on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial as Dr. Adam Wright shared about the core elements of visionary leadership as seen in the lives of Lincoln, Washington, and Jefferson.

Students had the opportunity to tour the U.S. Capitol, the Presidential Monuments on the National Mall, the National Archives, and much more in D.C. Pictured here is Chelsea Vaughn as she visits the U.S. Capitol's Statuary Hall.

Students had the opportunity to learn about George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and other prominent leaders from the founding generation. In the picture above, students listen to Dr. Adam Wright give a lecture at the University of Virginia's Academical Village (designed by Thomas Jefferson). Students also visited George Washington's home, Mount Vernon, and Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello.

Students had the opportunity to worship at the Washington National Cathedral. Afterwards, we were able to have a tour of this national treasure, which has been the site of Presidential funerals, the Memorial Service after 9/11, and much more. 

Overall, the trip was a unique experience that allowed students to both learn from current national leaders, as well as learn about the great leadership principles from our Founding Generation.

Here are a few quotes from some of our students who went on the trip:

The Washington, DC Spring Break trip was an incredible experience and an impactful course...Walking in the footsteps of the founding fathers and considering their leadership impact encouraged my walk with the Lord and the impact I can have in my current time and circumstances. Anyone who desires to develop his or her leadership skills while having an absolute blast in our nation’s capital should, without a doubt, consider taking this course. - Sarah Dulin, Master's Student

The Washington DC Spring Break trip was a week to remember. It was amazing to be able to take an entire to week to study the different types of leadership. When you first think of leadership, you view it as very one-dimensional, but upon further study with Professor Cook and Dr. Wright, you will discover that leadership is very three-dimensional and can come in many different types and forms...This course stretched me to flip my view of leadership upside down. Leadership is not about position, pride, power, and authority; rather it is about humility, service, and love towards others. If we allow the Holy Spirit to instill these traits within us, then God will use us in great ways in each of our various positions of leadership. -Jonathan Fechner, Undergraduate Student

This class has truly grown my faith and has taught me how to better integrate my faith into my leadership style...Thank you for challenging and stretching me this week. I cannot tell you how much it has changed my perspective. -Annie Wells, Undergraduate Student 

DBU - Master of Arts in Leadership Program

Dallas Baptist University's Master of Arts in Leadership Program

I am excited to announce a new Master of Arts in Leadership program at Dallas Baptist University.  The program is intended to serve as a catalyst for equipping leaders with the skills they will need to serve as Christian leaders in a variety of organizational contexts. The links below provide the details of this unique opportunity:

·         Degree Plan – MA in Leadership

·         Practical Experiences in the Program

·         What the MA in Leadership Can Do For Your Career

·         Learn from Exceptional Leaders in the Field

Program Overview

Leadership in the 21st century requires a broad array of skills and competencies, and Dallas Baptist University’s Master of Arts in Leadership is designed to provide students with the theoretical and practical knowledge necessary to gain these important leadership skills. It is intended to fill a gap in the current pool of master’s level programs available in academia by focusing on the soft skills associated with leadership. The program will provide students with training in areas that have been recognized as important in the eyes of employers (such as communicating a vision, collaborating with diverse groups, building teams, being able to lead change initiatives, exhibiting emotional intelligence, and resolving conflict), as well as giving them a foundation in emerging areas of leadership study (such as cross-cultural and global leadership). In addition, a major goal of the program will be to impart a Christian worldview of leadership and help students learn to ethically and morally apply leadership principles.

The following are the required courses for the program:

·         Christian Worldview of Leadership

·         Leadership in Management

·         Business Ethics

·         Biblical Servant Leadership

·         Vision-Casting & Leading Change

·         Leadership in Conflict and Adversity

·         Leadership Communication

·         Relational Leadership & Emotional Intelligence

·         Cross-Cultural and Global Leadership (S-L)

·         Mentored Leadership Internship

·         Great Leaders in History

·         Team Leadership, Collaboration & Examination of Leadership in the Lives of the Founding Fathers (Experiential Learning Trip to Washington, D.C. or Boston)

Practical Focus

The MA in Leadership is designed to provide practical skills and knowledge that will help students lead with distinction in real world contexts. Here are some of the practical experiences woven into the fabric of the program:

·         Leadership Roundtables: Learn from and network with seasoned leaders who will share their perspectives on leadership in the real world. These roundtables will be integrated into the core courses of the program, allowing students to learn from leaders in the midst of a classroom setting.

·         On-Site Business Visits: In addition to bringing leaders into the classroom, students will have the opportunity to learn from seasoned leaders at their organization’s headquarters. These on-site visits will provide students with rich experiences that will help them understand how leadership is applied in practical settings across a diverse range of industries.

·         Consulting for a Cause Program: Students will have the opportunity to apply their leadership through the Consulting for a Cause Program. This program pairs students and faculty with local nonprofits, small businesses, and churches to solve real problems for real organizations. Student and faculty teams will be presented with a core leadership challenge facing the designated organization, and will perform research, analyze data, and generate a plan for how to initiate positive change to solve that challenge. In so doing, students will gain valuable insights into real-world leadership issues, while also giving back to the community.

·         Mentored Leadership Internship: Because the process of applying leadership principles cannot be learned only in the classroom, students will be immersed in a mentored leadership internship. These internships will allow students to learn from leaders in the field and see how leadership is practiced in a variety of contexts.

·         Experiential Learning Trip: Students will have the opportunity to embark on a life-changing experiential learning trip to either Washington, D.C. or Boston, Massachusetts. These trips will be designed to allow students to meet with a broad range of national and international leaders in the business, nonprofit, and governmental sectors. In addition, students will visit important historical and cultural sites and have the opportunity to discuss the implications of leadership in history and in today’s 21st century environment.

           

Learn from Exceptional Leaders in the Field

Students in the MA in Leadership will have the opportunity to learn from seasoned leaders, including the following outstanding Christian leaders:

·         Dr. Gary Cook, President of Dallas Baptist University 

·         Dr. Wright Lassiter, Former Chancellor of the Dallas County Community College District 

·         Dr. Albert Reyes, President of Buckner International

·         Dr. Adam Wright, Vice President and Dean of the Cook School of Leadership at DBU

·         David Cook, Attorney and Program Director for the Master of Arts in Leadership at DBU

Dual Degrees

The Cook School of Leadership is pleased to offer several dual degree programs that pair with the MA in Leadership. These dual degrees include:

·         Master of Business Administration/Master of Arts in Leadership

·         Master of Arts in Theological Studies/Master of Arts in Leadership

·         Master of Arts in Christian Education/Master of Arts in Leadership

·         Master of Education in Higher Education/Master of Arts in Leadership