The LEAD 21 (Leadership for the 21st Century) program combines leadership with academics, research, and extension. Only seventy-five participants are selected each year, and Dr. Janet Kurzynske, Chair of the Department of Nutrition and Food Science will be part of the 2008 class for this leadership program.
The program is designed to develop leaders from land grant institutions like the University of Kentucky. Some of the curriculum goals are:
- Enhance skills and knowledge in nine leadership competencies.
- Develop a peer leadership network.
- Implement an individual leadership development process.
Since January 1991, Dr. Kurzynske has held an academic appointment in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science. Currently, she serves as chair of the department and Associate Extension Professor. Dr. Kurzynske stated, "As a new department chair at a landgrant university, I look forward to the opportunity to interact with new and seasoned leaders skilled at working across the three mission areas - research, intruction and extension."
Dr. Kurzynske starts the program June 22, 2008. She looks forward to the training sessions and the mentoring portion of the program. Dr. Ann Vail, Director of the UK School of Human Environmental Sciences, and Dr. Nancy Cox, Associate Dean for Research in the UK College of Agriculture will serve as her mentors.
We congratulate Dr. Kurzynske on her selection. For more information about LEAD 21 visit http://lead-21.org/ View Dr. Kurzynske's bio via her webpage.