Hello All,
Summer 2015 swiftly came and went leaving much smoke in its wake in the Pacific Northwest, but it was also another opportunity to work with the wonderful doctoral students who are the Gonzaga Summer DPLS. Thank you to the graduate assistants who studied and worked their way through summer coursework as they assisted professors and staff in the work we do. Thanks to all who are patiently awaiting a new staff hire to step into the Student Support Services Coordinator position. We interviewed 5 candidates from a pool of 72. We hope to make a choice and have someone joining the School of Professional Studies within two weeks … or sooner.
While someone new soon will be starting in an established position with DPLS and the School of Professional Studies, some of our DPLS family also will be starting new positions. Allow me to share:
Recent DPLS grad Dr. Dung Tran has accepted a 2 year teaching appointment in Organizational Leadership at Seattle University. Dung is an inaugural faculty hire for the recently launched School of New and Continuing Studies (NCS), which will offer undergrad degree programs in Digital Cultures and Organizational Leadership starting in Spring 2016. The new school was established in 2014 to provide a quality Jesuit education designed for working adults by offering baccalaureate and certificate programs that support part-time study and feature hybrid courses, combining online and in-class instruction. Dr. Tran looks forward to reconnecting with DPLS faculty, alumni, candidates, and students at the ILA annual meeting in Barcelona!
Current student (working on Candidacy) Oscar Harris recently began with the Spokane Public School District a new position as Student Support Services Coordinator. This position resulted, in part, from a one year mentorship-internship Oscar took as an independent study/mentorship with the DPLS program. Despite the challenges that go with the job, Oscar believes that as a servant leader this is a key position for him at this time in his career.
Brand new student Kelly Jo Kegerreis was recently named the Pacific Northwest Coordinator for the Military Momma Network. Kelly Jo will be the contact person for issues, comments, and concerns if one’s military child is from the following states in the “Western Region”: AK, WA, OR, ID, MT, WY, UT, CO, ND, SD, NE, and KS. This is important work Kelly Jo is doing, and it is all voluntary with a non-profit group.
Dung, Oscar, and Kelly Jo … we all wish you the best of luck in your new endeavors as you continue your studies in leadership pre-grad and post-grad!
Happy Academic New Year Everyone! Have an enlightening and fruitful semester.
JoAnn
JoAnn Danelo Barbour, PhD
Professor and Chair, Doctoral Program in Leadership Studies, School of Professional Studies, Gonzaga University