Leadership Studies
The Pryor Leadership Studies Program is a unique, experience-based academic program designed to complement any major or degree program. The three-year Leadership Studies program is housed in the Fred & Shirley Pryor Center for Leadership Development.
During the first semester, students complete a Cornerstone Course that teaches leadership theory and helps individuals learn about the strengths and weaknesses of their own leadership style. Students also write a Growth Plan to guide personal leadership development.
Pryor Fellows engage in several significant learning experiences. An Outward Bound trip allows students to practice leadership and team-building in the Florida Everglades. A Vocational Internship explores career interests, and a Volunteer Internship allows for experience in servant-leadership.
In the last semester, students participate in a comprehensive Capstone Course to complete a group Leadership Legacy project and to assist in making the transition into the world of work. Throughout the program, students focus on development in four critical areas: Servant, Situational, Self, and Shared Leadership. After all requirements are met and a thorough portfolio review is completed, students qualify to become a certified Pryor Fellow.
Nonprofit Leadership Major & American Humanics Certification
The Nonprofit Leadership major at William Jewell College is designed to prepare students for careers in the nonprofit sector. The major builds on William Jewell's Responsible Self curriculum and is a Bachelor of Arts degree. It is an in-depth course of study requiring 46 hours of course work as well as internships, field study, and service. The courses involved provide a "real world" education for the students and include courses from various disciplines across the William Jewell campus.
The American Humanics nonprofit leadership certificate program, which is based on competencies not courses, is open to all students from any major and complements the Pryor Leadership Studies Program, the Tucker Leadership Lab, and the curricular and co-curricular activities already in place at William Jewell College. The AH Certificate benefits students by giving them targeted studies/experiences in the core competencies necessary for effective leadership in nonprofit organizations. The AH students also have numerous opportunities to interact with nonprofit leaders through their participation in workshops, conferences, and internships with a highlight being the annual AH Management Institute.
The AH program opens up career opportunities for both traditional and non-traditional students who graduate with a liberal arts education and a heart for service. Every year, 3000+ jobs are available nationally through 17 affiliated agencies. With a 100% nationwide placement rate, students with an AH certificate from William Jewell College are in demand!
For more information, please review the William Jewell College Course Catalog, or visit www.pryorcenter.org
Programs offered:
- Pryor Leadership Studies Program
- Nonprofit Leadership Major & Minor
- American Humanics Certification
Distinctives:
- The Pryor Center for Leadership Development is a custom-designed facility for leadership studies;
- Classrooms are designed for small classes and close interaction between students and faculty;
- The focus is on personal, professional and community leadership;
- Opportunities for individual assessment, development, coaching and mentoring;
- Exposes students to regional, national and world leaders;
- Emphasizes the servant-leadership model throughout;
- Encourages students to leave a leadership legacy, i.e., to "give back" to the community.
Are you ready to start your leadership journey? The Leadership Studies Department at William Jewell College can help you achieve your leadership goals.
Leadership Studies Faculty:
Kevin W. Shaffstall, M.A.
Director of the Pryor Leadership Studies Program
Kevin W. Shaffstall is responsible for the students involved with the Nonprofit Leadership program as well as American Humanics. He received a B.S. from Kansas State University and an M.A. from Webster University. He is a member of the Leadership Studies and Programs Advancement Council at Kansas State University. Kevin is also the founder of Team Arts Inc., a company that provides international training in the areas of team building and leadership development. As the former director of the Leadership Development Center at Adventure Woods in Kansas City, Mo., he designed and delivered more than 2,200 of his widely acclaimed team skills training programs to managers and leaders from a wide variety of organizations. In addition, his creative teambuilding initiatives have been published in the book Quicksilver. In 2005, Kevin received the prestigious President of the United States National Volunteer Service Award at the National Points of Light Conference.
Alan Madison DuBois (Adjunct)
Alan DuBois founded Genesis School in 1977 and served as its Executive Director until 2008. He received his JD degree from American University and his MA from the University of Missouri. Mr. DuBois brings an incredible wealth of knowledge regarding nonprofit leadership to his Nonprofit Board and Committee Development course. He is a highly-respected Kansas City community leader and has received numerous accolades including Presidential Awards from the Departments of Labor as well as Health and Human Services.
Paula Pratt (Adjunct)
Harvesters: The Community Food Network
Paula Pratt retired from Southwestern Bell in August 2001 after more than 31 years of service, having spent the last ten years of her career working in Mexico City, and then Johannesburg, South Africa. She retired from the Executive – Service Management position in S. Africa, having an organization of more than 200 employees that oversaw the telephone company’s relationship with the top 400 corporate customers of Telkom South Africa. She started volunteering for Harvesters shortly after retiring, and in May 2002 she became the volunteer services manager for the food bank. In August 2007, she became the Director of Community Outreach, overseeing the volunteer programs, including the Ambassador and AmeriCorps programs, the food and fund drive programs, and the nutrition education programs.
Frederik O. Andersson (Adjunct)
UMKC Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership Fredrik O. Andersson is currently pursuing his Ph.D in nonprofit management and entrepreneurship at the Henry W. Bloch School of Business & Public Administration, University of Missouri-Kansas City. He is also Doctoral Fellow with the Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership. Born and raised in Växjö, Sweden, he received his undergraduate in politics and economics from Lund University in 2001. Following his interest in international development issues, Fredrik worked with foreign aid and civil society related tasks for several Swedish nonprofit organizations. He has also traveled extensively in southern Africa where he both worked and volunteered in different development projects. After meeting his future wife, graphic designer Megan Andersson, in Chicago in 2002, Fredrik moved to Kansas City two years later. He entered UMKCs interdisciplinary doctoral program in 2007 and today his primary research focuses on entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial activity in nonprofit organizations.
Matt J. Brillhart (Adjunct)
Pryor Center for Leadership Development
Matt Brillhart is currently the Director of Community Outreach for the Pryor Center for Leadership Development at William Jewell College. He is campus director for the American Humanics Nonprofit Leadership certificate program and instructs LSP 100 Introduction to Nonprofit Leadership and Philanthropy and LSP 390 Strategic Planning and Meeting Facilitation. He received in M.S. in Education from Emporia State University in 1996. He has served as Director of Training for the American Red Cross Midwest Blood Services Region and the Director of Education for Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity where he created an award-winning membership development program as well as a mentoring program. He has an extensive background in training, classroom instruction, facilitation, and program development. He has served on various boards of nonprofits organizations and has been at William Jewell College since 2005.
