A Step Ahead

Winter 2020 | By Carol Brzozowski

Tomorrow’s leaders face continued changes that call for a new leadership approach to address housing, education, healthcare, job opportunities, transportation and cost of living factors.

Clayton State University’s Division of University Advancement and External Affairs is working to address the need for effective public leaders through the development of the Institute for Leadership and Civic Engagement.

The future program will be designed to help tomorrow’s change agents who are geared to shape the south metro Atlanta region define their civic identity against the backdrop of Clayton County’s increasingly growing and diverse population.

“If citizens don’t understand what they need or want, they can’t understand their relationship to government and how to shape it,” notes Chase Moore, vice-president of the Division of University Advancement and External Affairs.

“We believe if we foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for the role citizens play in building their communities that our graduates will be more likely to not only seek out opportunities to be civic leaders, but also have the toolkit to be thoughtful about the challenges the future will bring,” he adds.

Building the foundation for the Institute for Leadership & Civic Engagement will require identifying the early champions—a task now underway—as well as refining the case for support, states Moore.

The Institute will have an interdisciplinary approach, operating under the Office of the Provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. Moore says an individual will be identified to take the lead for establishing programming.

“If citizens don’t understand what they need or want, they can’t understand their relationship to government and how to shape it.”

- Chase Moore, vice-president of the Division of University Advancement and External Affairs

Moore indicated the development process will last until at least the end of 2020 before the institute will be able to deliver the types of programs deemed critical to its success. He hopes the institute will have the most impact locally on city, county and state public officials as well as with the current student body.

“As a university, we have the opportunity to go much deeper into unpacking issues like policy, zoning or even the effects of an economic development plan,” Moore says.