Virginia Tech faculty members complete land-grant leadership development
LEAD21 program graduates embrace opportunities for personal and collaborative leadership impact.
Three Virginia Tech faculty members -- Eric Kaufman, Arash Rashed, and Crystal Tyler-Mackey -- recently completed the LEAD21 leadership development program. They are part of a distinguished group representing land-grant institutions and their strategic partners nationwide in an effort to bridge the gaps between research, academics, and Extension services, empowering them to lead more effectively in an increasingly complex environment, whether in their current positions or future leadership roles.
Throughout the past year, they have consistently engaged with their peers in person and virtually to strengthen their personal leadership capacity.
“The program seminars were intensive, but well-facilitated, which kept us engaged and learning,” said Kaufman, professor and associate department head of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education. “I especially appreciated the small group discussions and working through the practical aspects of the leadership dilemmas each person brought to the LEAD21 seminars.”
Goals of LEAD21 are to enhance the application of skills and knowledge across a set of nine key leadership competencies, creating a network of peer leaders to enrich personal leadership skills, foster collaboration, embrace diverse perspectives, and establish an individualized leadership development process.
“The LEAD21 program provided an engaged and impactful opportunity for me to gain a better understanding of myself, how others are impacted by my leadership, and how I can become a better, more effective leader,” said Tyler-Mackey, Extension specialist and leader. ”Learning alongside colleagues from across the nation serving in Extension, teaching, and/or research roles broadened the scope and better prepared us for current and future leadership roles within the land grant university system as a whole.”
The graduation was held at the culmination of the third in-person session, where the focus was on organizational leadership through collaboration, communication, and leading change.
“LEAD21 provided me with a remarkable and engaging opportunity to expand my network, learn about myself, and acquire skills that will help me improve as a leader,” said Rashed, an associate professor of Entomology and director of Southern Piedmont AREC. “I am grateful for the connections with Team LEAD21 Class 19, our effective facilitators and instructors, and Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences for this great experience.”
