Congratulations to the Leadership Academy

Last Friday Session One of the IPS Leadership Academy graduated from the two-year program.

The experience was a great one for me as a coach, mentor and colleague. We started in September 2010 in a week-long experience in Townsend where we shared "I Am", learned about bear jams and the many dimensions of leadership. During the two years we visited every UT campus and most of the IPS regional offices. We toured the campuses and met with the campus leadership. We visited Nashville and the state legislature. We even had the opportunity to have our picture made with the Governor. (We had lots of good food along the way!)

We conducted a wide-range of assessments and evaluations throughout the program. We have lots of data to demonstrate the success of this program. The participants were generous with both their time and their feedback.  Session Two starts next month and we will definitely make improvements to the program.  Chuck Shoopman is leading Session Two and this will be a great experience for him and the participants. Maybe he'll learn to play "Apples to Apples" in the Boom Boom Room like I did!

I appreciate the dedication to the program all the participants showed and I look forward to seeing their successes in the future. My closing message to them included:

Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to great places! You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself any direction you choose.

You’re on your own. And you know what you know.

And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

Oh, the pace you’ll go!

This message from Dr. Seuss was a fitting summary of our experience. I look forward to an alumni reunion some time in the future.