Organizational Leadership to join department
By Sarah Haussler
Students studying Organizational Leadership (OL) at NKU gained an entire department of resources and faculty on July 1, 2009, when the interdisciplinary program and its variety of majors merged with the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice (PSC-CJ).
Although OL students previously enjoyed direct access to most courses at NKU, the merger heightens connections to content areas related to organizational leadership, including public administration, international and political affairs and criminal justice. The merger also brings OL students into contact with a new and large set of faculty members who are eager to share much expertise in OL related areas.
Dr. Julie Kunselman, chair of the Department of Political Science & Criminal Justice, looks forward to collaborating with the Organizational Leadership faculty.
"The integration of Organizational Leadership into PSC-CJ extends opportunities for all faculty to teach across programs, team-teach and partner in research, especially the scholarship of teaching," said Dr. Kunselman.
Dr. Gary Mattson, an associate professor in the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice, strongly supported the merger. With an MPA in Organizational Development, Dr. Mattson has worked in both private and public sectors prior to teaching and clearly recognizes ways in which PSC-CJ disciplines can enhance the OL curriculum.
"Many skills taught in the private sector in the areas of personnel, finance and executive leadership are inclusive within the public sector," Dr. Mattson said. "State, city and county governments utilize these same skill sets. This (merger) will broaden employment opportunities to currently enrolled organizational leadership students, because as baby boomers retire, numerous opportunities will become available in federal, state and local governments."
Students majoring in Organizational Leadership will be blended into the new department in extracurricular as well as curricular ways. The Department of Political Science & Criminal Justice supports four student groups (Xi Omega, Zeta Pi Gamma, Phi Alpha Delta, Public Administration Student Society) and encourages students to participate in conferences and applied research partnerships with faculty and community agencies.
"Faculty and students in the PSC & CJ department are very active both on and off campus," notes Dr. Shamima Ahmed, associate chair of the department. "The OL program will be integrated with a very strong and growing department which is thriving. The faculty, as a group, is very productive and engaged in the community."
Finally, the merger provides an opportunity to revisit the Organizational Leadership major, minor and certificate curricula to further enrich these programs and the programs already offered in PSC-CJ. Organizational Leadership courses will continue to be delivered completely online through Pace and face-to-face as late afternoon/evening classes.