Lessons in leadership: Brehm to teach seminar

As the head of the IU Bloomington campus, Chancellor Sharon Brehm has the right credentials to teach lessons in leadership.\nChancellor Sharon Brehm and her student advisor will host students for a series of "Leadership Dinners" to discuss leadership skills and discover what makes a good leader. \n"The chancellor is a wonderful role model, and this dinner series provides an excellent opportunity to interact with a campus leader," said senior Erin Lynn Ransford, the chancellor's advisor to Undergraduate Leadership Programs. She will facilitate the discussion with Brehm.\n"I hope the participating students gain insight from the chancellor and are inspired to take chances and take on leadership roles."\nThe first dinner in the series will be on Nov. 5. The deadline to apply for the November dinner is Tuesday, Oct. 22.\nThe program emphasizes exchange of opinions about leadership between the chancellor and students.\n"It'll be a two-way street conversation," Brehm said. "I'll learn from them, and they'll learn from me."\nRegarding the specific activities or topics in the discussion, Ransford said she is flexible about how the program will develop.\n"We have discussed the possibility of hosting guest speakers, but no decisions have been made as of yet," Ransford said. "As the November dinner is the first in the series, we are open to modifications of the format depending on its success."\nThis year five Leadership Dinners are scheduled: two in the fall and three in the spring. \nIn order to participate in the program, a student must be a full-time IU Bloomington student with two full semesters of classes and 3.0 GPA or higher. Also, experience on leadership positions is preferred, and applicants must show initiative or potential as a student leader and aptitude for leadership. \nRequiring the completion of two full semesters of classes will disqualify new students, including most freshmen.\n"As this program has the dualistic goal of gaining the insight of students and allowing a venue for students to learn from the chancellor, we decided to aim for the students with a little more experience on the Indiana University campus," Ransford said.\nFreshman Jill Hutcherson is the Language House Representative on the Executive Board at Foster- International Quad. She said she understands why the program is designed for students with leadership experience and familiarity at IU, but not completely.\n"To make sure people are really serious about leadership in college, it's understandable that they don't want freshmen to participate," Hutcherson said. \n"But at the same time, it's slightly to their own disadvantage because if you start thinking about leadership in your freshman year, some of the best leaders can be developed."\nEach dinner will take place at the chancellor's house with eight students. \n"The decision was made to have an intimate environment for the dinners," Ransford said. "If we went with a larger venue, there would be less time for each student to be able to interact with the chancellor, and she would have to go from table to table." \n"With a smaller group, there could be more continued and proactive dialogue about leadership."\nThe November dinner focuses on Italian cuisine. Ransford said the dinner attire is business casual. \nThe Office of the Chancellor funds the program, so the dinners are free to students. Interested students can request an application by e-mailing Ransford at eransfor@indiana.edu. Applications can be sent to the above e-mail address or sent by campus mail to Leadership Dinners, c/o Erin Ransford, 1000 North Fee Lane D100.\nThe December dinner is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 3. Deadlines to apply for the November Dinner and the December Dinner are Tuesday, Oct. 22 and Tuesday, Nov. 19, respectively.\nDates and times for dinners in the spring semester have not been determined.\nLeadership Dinners:\n• There will be five Leadership Dinners: two in the fall and three in the spring.\n• Fall dinners are scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 5 and Tuesday, Dec. 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the chancellor's house.\n• Dates and times for dinners in the spring semester have not been determined.\n• Eight students will participate in each dinner.\n• Deadlines to apply for the November Dinner and the December are Tuesday, Oct. 22 and Tuesday, Nov. 19, respectively.\n• Interested students can request an application by e-mailing Erin Ransford at eransfor@indiana.edu.\nApplications can be sent to the above email address or sent by campus mail to Leadership Dinners, c/o Erin Ransford, 1000 North Fee Lane D100.