VCU's Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute to introduce inaugural leadership participants

By Mary Beth Alford

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Commonwealth University’s Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute will present the members of VCU Leadership Development Program’s inaugural class at 9 a.m. Jan. 11 at the Richmond Marriott, 500 E. Broad St. Representing a cross-section of emerging university leaders, the 30 participants will be introduced to VCU President Eugene P. Trani, Ph.D.; Hermes A. Kontos, M.D., Ph.D., chief executive officer for the VCU Health System; and Roderick J. Davis, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs, as well as university administrators and faculty.

The 10-month VCU Leadership Development Program is designed to train and develop current and emerging campus leaders to assume leadership positions within the university. The program will stress the development of leadership skills, behaviors, competencies and practices through the acquisition of knowledge, professional skills and feedback. Guided by campus mentors, participants also will gain a state and national perspective of higher-education and health-care issues; complete a group project focused on university priorities and study university operations.

Participants, who were nominated from across the university, demonstrate the talents and commitment to pursue greater leadership roles at VCU and the VCU Health System. They currently hold campus leadership positions and represent diversity of gender, race and ethnicity.

"I am extremely honored by the outstanding caliber by the individuals participating in the Leadership Development Program and those university leaders who have agreed to serve as mentors," said Grace E. Harris, Ph.D., professor in the Center for Public Policy, "The introductory program will highlight the quality of leadership potential within the university and the initiation of a university-supported program for the advancement of this potential."

The Leadership Development Program is one of several programs offered through the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute, housed in VCU’s Center for Public Policy. The institute was established in 1999 by the VCU board of visitors to honor VCU’s former provost and vice president for academic affairs for her 32 years as an accomplished campus leader.