hen Oscar C. Page became president of Austin College in 1994, his
own heritage of leadership was evident. A college faculty member,
dean, provost, and president in the years before arriving at Austin
College, he also served the communities in which he lived and worked
through a variety of involvements, volunteer activities, and
leadership roles.
Acquainting himself with the Austin College community, Dr. Page
spoke often of the importance of servant leadership and values-based
education. He also told of his plan for nurturing leadership skills
and abilities in Austin College students, who would become engaged
members of their own communities, providing leadership in their
careers and mentoring other individuals, thus furthering service and
leadership.
With that plan in mind, Dr. Page initiated one of the most
influential student development programs in the recent history of
the College. Plans became reality in 1995 as the first 15 freshman
students were accepted into the Austin College Leadership Institute.
The program of study and exploration was designed to present a
modern model of leadership that embraced service to others, a global
perspective, and personal responsibility. The program included
active study of leadership theory and practice, experiential growth
through internships and interactive mentor relationships, courses in
communication and ethics, and exposure to great examples of leaders.
The
program was designed to extend beyond the 75 or so students who
would make up the Leadership Institute at full, four-year capacity.
Dr. Page envisioned the institute as the means for leadership
studies to expand to the entire student body and as a vehicle for
outreach to the greater community. Long-time faculty member Shelton
Williams was named the first director of the institute, and in 2005,
Peter DeLisle took over that role. A number of faculty and staff
have served on the steering committee of the institute and taught
various courses. The institute has been a fluid organization,
offering programs and outreach activities as different opportunities
have been made available. Always, though, students have been the
focus.
Through the Chair of Excellence in International Leadership, all
Austin College students had the opportunity to hear insights on
leadership from internationally recognized leaders, including Colin
Powell, Madeleine Albright, James Baker, and George H.W. Bush. Other
political leaders who met with students included Kim Campbell,
Canada’s first female prime minister, and Oscar Arias, president of
Costa Rica and Nobel Peace Prize winner. Unique and personal
perspectives on lessons in leadership also were offered by Millard
Fuller, founder of Habitat for Humanity; actor and director Peter
Bogdanovich; and journalists Steve and Cokie Roberts. In 2003, the
institute was named the Posey Leadership Institute in honor of the
generosity and leadership of Lee and Sally Posey of Dallas, who made
significant contributions of time and resources to the program.
A
few years later, another gift from the Poseys and Dr. Page’s vision
created the Austin College Leadership Award (renamed the Austin
College Posey Leadership Award in 2009 after Lee’s death). This
award has recognized women and men of extraordinary global
influence and servant leadership who make a positive impact through
service to the local, national, or international community,
particularly on behalf of young people.
Recipients of this honor have included Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach
for America; Dr. Paul Farmer, international medical humanitarian
whose health relief efforts are memorialized in Tracy Kidder’s book
Mountains Beyond Mountains; Geoffrey Canada, community advocate and
founder of the Harlem Children’s Zone; and Greg Mortenson, director
of the Central Asia Institute and builder of girls’ schools and
human understanding in Pakistan and Afghanistan for 20 years.
These speakers were simply the “headliners” among many local,
regional, national, and international leaders who have interacted
with Posey Leadership Institute students throughout the years.
Meanwhile, students were having their own experiences, sharing what
they had learned with younger students, and working with Dr. Page
and other leaders to ensure that the activities and programs of the
institute would benefit the Austin College community.
What are the real results of Dr. Page’s vision for a leadership
institute? As of 2009, the program has nearly 200 graduates — alumni
who have embraced the study of leadership, emulated their mentors,
and focused on becoming responsible citizens as they have moved
beyond Austin College. Many are quick to relate their professional
development and success to the lessons learned at Austin College,
where they had the full advantages of the type of Austin College
education that has produced leaders for 160 years. The alumni are
thankful that they were offered some extra benefits through the
institute — and through the shining example of Oscar Page they
witnessed while at Austin College and beyond.
Greg Gitcho ’99 and Michelle Whetstone Anderson ’99 were among the
15 original institute scholars.
Today, Greg is vice president of acquisitions with Cypress Real
Estate Advisors in Austin, Texas, and Michelle is a senior account
manager with STERIS Corporation in Dallas, Texas. Ten years after
graduating from Austin College, their leadership training remains
with them.
“Today, my idea of leadership is much broader and a bit more
intrinsic than when I began my studies,” Michelle said. “Leadership
comes in many different forms, styles, and techniques, but
ultimately, I believe it is simply the art of motivating and
inspiring people to perform in a positive, productive way.”
Michelle said she wishes that businesses had a forum for continuing
the type of education and growth offered through the institute. “The
art of leadership is valuable in every facet of one's life from work
to church to home to our everyday interactions with strangers,” she
said. “The more we study and grow our independent leadership skills,
the more valuable we are to ourselves and to others in our lives.”
Greg said the Leadership Institute and other opportunities at Austin
College provided him a sense of preparedness upon graduation. “The
‘real world’ was not an unknown, but rather a crucial component of
the Leadership Institute curriculum in which we all participated via
community service commitments, our community mentor relationships,
and even interactive conversations with world leaders,” Greg said.
“After 10 years, I find myself still studying and evaluating
leadership, both introspectively and by way of leaders in my daily
life. For me, leadership is a practice that must be exercised and
strengthened over time, while still preserving the fundamental
principles upon which it is based.”
Greg and Michelle believe that Austin College students have not had
to look far for an example of excellence in leadership. “Dr. Page
has not only dutifully fulfilled the position of president of Austin
College for the past 15 years, but has served as a principle role
model for the Austin College community and the Leadership Institute
he created,” Greg said.
Recalling her early days on campus, Michelle remembered, “I thought
that as long as I could learn from Dr. Page’s example over the next
four years, I would certainly grow and develop into the kind of
Austin College graduate that would make my parents proud.”
She
did — and today she continues the example of leadership, as do her
leadership institute classmates and more than 4,500 Austin College
alumni who have graduated since 1995. The legacy of leadership
continues ….
Rhett Skiles ’02, program officer for Serbia, Croatia, and
Montenegro for the International Republican Institute in Washington,
D.C., charts his trajectory from a Student Assembly and Model United
Nations delegate to the London School of Economics and to duties as
a senior legislative assistant for Homeland Security, Foreign
Affairs, and Economic Development for U.S. Representative Steven
Pearce of New Mexico.
Rhett attributes much of his awareness and sensitivity to the
combination of practical experiences and academic reflection that he
experienced through the Leadership Institute. He remembers with
appreciation the advocacy of Professor Mark Hebert and a
manifestation of true servant leadership in Dr. Page, his smile for
everyone and an “impeccable” memory for students and personal and
consequential details of their lives. Rhett described Dr. Page as a
person consistently ready to assess the vision and practice of
Austin College, with the special ability to listen to ideas and
perspectives with positive outlook and regard.
Catherine Moran ’07 embraced the model of the
scholar-leader-athlete. In addition to her leadership as women’s
basketball team captain and active membership in Black Expressions,
Catherine was instrumental in the development of the outreach
partnership, now in its fourth year, between Austin College and the
Irma J. Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School in Dallas, Texas.
Catherine is finishing her studies at the University of Texas at
Austin School of Law, where she is president of the Thurgood
Marshall Legal Society and began the Ashaki Young Women’s Leadership
Project, an advocacy program working with Austin public schools.
In
retrospect, Catherine said, her own leadership style was formed by a
continuing desire to focus on personal growth and how she could
positively affect others. She recently competed on the national
finalist team for the Frederick Douglas Moot Court competition,
serves as an editor for the National Black Law Journal, and has
served on the staffs of legislators, judges, and public defenders in
preparation for her career as a civil rights litigator.
Lynden McGriff
’02, who earned a doctorate in pharmacy and a
master’s degree in business at Creighton University, reports that
the experience of the Leadership Institute and the support of Dr.
Page allowed him to cultivate a sense of personal confidence that
fortified his positive engagement. Through that confidence he has
traveled to Africa, served as an intern in the Office of
Environmental and Scientific Affairs as a chemical research
associate, and found himself as a spokesman for the Environmental
Policy Office for then-Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Lynden has been a clinical coordinator for the Institute for Latin
American Service as a pharmacy student, a lobbyist for the American
Pharmaceutical Association, and a pharmacy manager and pharmacist
for Walgreens. His recollection of leadership experiences at Austin
College involve the encouragement for diligence, determination,
perseverance, and courage.
Amber Childress
’07 lives in Washington, D.C., and recently joined
the staff of the Terrestrial Carbon Group, a climate change
mitigation program housed within the H. John Heinz III Center for
Science, Economics, and the Environment. She had significant
exposure to the federal legislative process before and during her
studies at Austin College, serving as a Congressional page while in
high school and, while at Austin College, interning in the office of
the Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the U.S. House of
Representatives.
While a leadership student, Amber led a team of Austin College
students who assisted the Greater Dallas Business Ethics Selection
Committee in the selection of the annual national awardee in 2007.
Amber credited these and other leadership roles she was afforded as
a member of the leadership program as instrumental in her personal
development and subsequent choice of professional endeavor.
Abbas Ravjani
’04 was the consummate student leader. From Boys and
Girls Club volunteer to Student Assembly president, Abbas extended
himself far beyond the norm for Austin College students. He was
awarded prestigious Truman Scholarship based on leadership
potential, but delayed his entry into law school to work for the
U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence as a Middle East analyst. He is
completing Yale Law School this June and then will join the legal
counsel team of the Senate Foreign Services Committee.
Abbas noted that his experience at Austin College studying
leadership afforded him the distinct advantage of having knowledge
and skill in self-development and professional decision-making. He
said that the frequency with which he was able to engage in real
leadership responsibilities gave him a sense of self-confidence and
perspective that contributed directly to his success. He credited
Dr. Page with creating this environment and providing the feedback
and support that enhanced his development as a student leader.
Kristin Saboe ’07 chose Austin College over
comparable schools because the College allowed her to begin her
studies in leadership as a freshman. She demonstrated her
interest and engagement as a student leader through involvement
with Rotaract, as a founding member of the Wheelchair Basketball
fundraiser, and as the executive for the Student Development
Board.
Kristin credits her study abroad experience;
internships at the Osgood Center in Washington, D.C., and the
Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce; and exposure to leaders of
state like Kim Campbell, former Prime Minister of Canada, as
instrumental in developing her awareness and fortifying her
conviction. Kristin was awarded a Rotary International Paul
Harris Fellowship on her way to doctoral studies in
organizational psychology and leadership at the University of
South Florida. She is working on a Ph.D. in industrial and
organizational psychology and was awarded a traineeship in an
interdisciplinary program for occupational health psychology.
hen Oscar C. Page became president of Austin College in 1994, his
own heritage of leadership was evident. A college faculty member,
dean, provost, and president in the years before arriving at Austin
College, he also served the communities in which he lived and worked
through a variety of involvements, volunteer activities, and
leadership roles. 
Today, Greg is vice president of acquisitions with Cypress Real
Estate Advisors in Austin, Texas, and Michelle is a senior account
manager with STERIS Corporation in Dallas, Texas. Ten years after
graduating from Austin College, their leadership training remains
with them. 
Michelle said she wishes that businesses had a forum for continuing
the type of education and growth offered through the institute. “The
art of leadership is valuable in every facet of one's life from work
to church to home to our everyday interactions with strangers,” she
said. “The more we study and grow our independent leadership skills,
the more valuable we are to ourselves and to others in our lives.”
Rhett Skiles ’02, program officer for Serbia, Croatia, and
Montenegro for the International Republican Institute in Washington,
D.C., charts his trajectory from a Student Assembly and Model United
Nations delegate to the London School of Economics and to duties as
a senior legislative assistant for Homeland Security, Foreign
Affairs, and Economic Development for U.S. Representative Steven
Pearce of New Mexico.
Catherine Moran ’07 embraced the model of the
scholar-leader-athlete. In addition to her leadership as women’s
basketball team captain and active membership in Black Expressions,
Catherine was instrumental in the development of the outreach
partnership, now in its fourth year, between Austin College and the
Irma J. Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School in Dallas, Texas.
Catherine is finishing her studies at the University of Texas at
Austin School of Law, where she is president of the Thurgood
Marshall Legal Society and began the Ashaki Young Women’s Leadership
Project, an advocacy program working with Austin public schools.
Lynden McGriff
’02, who earned a doctorate in pharmacy and a
master’s degree in business at Creighton University, reports that
the experience of the Leadership Institute and the support of Dr.
Page allowed him to cultivate a sense of personal confidence that
fortified his positive engagement. Through that confidence he has
traveled to Africa, served as an intern in the Office of
Environmental and Scientific Affairs as a chemical research
associate, and found himself as a spokesman for the Environmental
Policy Office for then-Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Amber Childress
’07 lives in Washington, D.C., and recently joined
the staff of the Terrestrial Carbon Group, a climate change
mitigation program housed within the H. John Heinz III Center for
Science, Economics, and the Environment. She had significant
exposure to the federal legislative process before and during her
studies at Austin College, serving as a Congressional page while in
high school and, while at Austin College, interning in the office of
the Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the U.S. House of
Representatives.
Abbas Ravjani
’04 was the consummate student leader. From Boys and
Girls Club volunteer to Student Assembly president, Abbas extended
himself far beyond the norm for Austin College students. He was
awarded prestigious Truman Scholarship based on leadership
potential, but delayed his entry into law school to work for the
U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence as a Middle East analyst. He is
completing Yale Law School this June and then will join the legal
counsel team of the Senate Foreign Services Committee.
Kristin Saboe ’07 chose Austin College over
comparable schools because the College allowed her to begin her
studies in leadership as a freshman. She demonstrated her
interest and engagement as a student leader through involvement
with Rotaract, as a founding member of the Wheelchair Basketball
fundraiser, and as the executive for the Student Development
Board. 
