Class of 2011 - Dressed for Success At First Lecture on Leadership Principles

August 24, 2011

 “The Power of Leadership” a lecture by PLC Professor Colleen Scanlan Lyons, welcomed the PLC Class of 2011’s to their first Tuesday night class: PRLC 1810: “Individual Leadership & Ethics.”  Professor Scanlan Lyons structured the lecture around the six themes of the first semester curriculum, as seen through the lens of her work as an anthropologist in Brazil.

Her research has taken her to the Atlantic Rainforest region of Brazil, an area that does not get much attention as the Amazon, yet is an incredible diverse ecological region and a major, worldwide producer of cacao. In addition its bio-diversity, numerous local groups with conflicting agendas make the Atlantic Rainforest region prime real estate for the study of leadership.

Dr. Scanlan Lyons focused much of her dissertation and her on-going research on following local leaders in this region. In her travels, she found that while culture norms are important for a society, once she let go of her preconceived notions she was able to get to the heart of local issues faster and with greater accuracy.  As for her new students, the PLC freshman, Dr. Scanlan Lyons pointed out that knowing who you are is essential to understanding what you stand for.

“Find your bliss, figure out what you care about,' she told the class.

The reason Dr. Scanlan Lyons first got turned on to her current area of research was during a trip to Brazil as a grad student, “I found my bliss going out and talking to people. I love doing fieldwork. I love getting in (my car) and driving around Brazil.”   It was apparent through her presentation that Dr. Scanlan Lyons has experienced what is means to be a leader on a very personal level. 

The first semester course is meant to challenge the new PLC students on their "ethics, ideas and passions." While her work and passion for Brazil is on-going, Dr. Scanlan Lyons interest in working with the class of 2011 has just begun. When asked why she wants to teach for PLC she responded,  “I’ve value leadership so much around the globe, and now I have the opportunity to engage locally with the students in this class. That’s exciting to me.”

Students in Lecture

PLC First Year Curriculum- First Semester
Unit One: The Power of Leadership
Unite Two: The Power of Self-Awareness
Unit Three: The Power of Conviction and Commitment
Unit Four: The Power of Communication
Unit Five: The Power of Diversity
Unit Six: The Power of Resilience

Derek Kessinger
Marketing and Media Fellow