Leadership 101

TROY’s first free summer course was an overwhelming success with students from many walks of life. Leadership 101 saw more than 4,600 students register and 1,600 receive certificates of completion. “Our free Leadership 101 course was more successful than we could ever have imagined,” said Dr. Kerry Palmer, Associate Dean of the College of Education and one of the primary instructors in the course. “When designing the course, we had no way of knowing how many would take it. However, we ended up with over 1,600 students enrolled in June and over 3,000 students enrolled in July. I believe this course was successful because the topics were relevant to a broad audience — especially considering everything that has been going on in the world.” With course content designed to equip students to thrive in a post-pandemic world, Leadership 101 featured lectures from some of TROY’s most well-known faculty, including Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor; Dr. Dionne Rosser-Mims, Dean of the College of Education; and Dr. John Kline, Executive Director of the Institute for Leadership Development. The class reached students from a variety of backgrounds, including current college students and respected professionals. “The discussion forums highlighted the most interesting dynamic of this course. Our oldest student was 84 and our youngest was 14,” Dr. Palmer said. “We had high school students, incoming college freshman, undergraduates attending other institutions, college professors, law enforcement leaders and even senior military officers. The diversity of age and experience allowed students to learn from each other in addition to learning from us. Those forums produced the most unique educational environment I have ever encountered.” One of those incoming first-year students, Theo Hornsby, saw the class as an invaluable opportunity he needed to take. “Leadership 101 has provided me with a skill set that has taught me to be intentional in my interactions,” he said. “I've learned the importance of taking advantage of opportunities and setting goals for myself. I’ve learned that self-awareness is an integral step in developing my leadership skills. Leadership 101 helped me step outside myself and reevaluate the approach I might normally take in a situation. It helped me see that leadership must include an understanding, not just of myself, but of others.”