My Simmons

Leadership Course

Spring 2024

LDR 101-01 Boston Women Leaders

Instructor: Erin DeCurtis
T/Th 3:30pm – 4:50pm

This course will explore women leaders in Boston. The course will identify trends common to these women leaders as well as the unique leadership practices that successful women leaders in Boston enacted that contributed to the social, economic, political and personal successes they achieved. Students will use lessons learned to develop their own leadership philosophy. The course will include interviews with current women leaders in Boston from business, nonprofit and government sectors.

LDR 101-02 Leading with Authenticity

Instructor: Heather Shlosser
T/Th 2:00pm – 3:20pm

According to recent psychological research, authentic leadership energizes, builds trust, and reinforces personal strengths and self-awareness through sincerity, optimism, and a strong moral compass. Cutting edge research and case studies will inform our understanding of the roots of authentic and other leadership styles from a psychological perspective. Together, we will consider how social groups and identities, personality traits, moral reasoning, and emotional intelligence shape the development of leadership skills. Authentic leadership relies on open, honest, and respectful discourse with followers and other leaders whose perspectives differ from one’s own. We will practice engaged listening and respectful discourse with others alongside individual work to constructively examine our own biases, beliefs, and behaviors. Through group projects, oral presentations, deep reflection, and written communication, you will strengthen your ability to engage with others and to lead with authenticity to inspire social change.

LDR 101-03 Women Leaders and the Rise of Human Rights

Instructor: Chantal Krcmar
T 6:00pm – 8:50pm

This course examines leadership by studying the unique historical role played by women in advancing human rights in international politics during the 20th century. Students will examine a range of leadership models employed by women in diverse roles: from Eleanor Roosevelt’s role in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to Cecile Richards and the global dimensions of the fight for reproductive rights, and to Madeline Albright and Condoleezza Rice as the first female secretaries of state. How did these women envision rights beyond those guaranteed by the state? What leadership attributes were most effective in protecting the rights of those facing injustice, persecution, and violence elsewhere on the globe? Answers to these questions will prepare students to engage with human rights ideas as leaders in their own political moment.

LDR 101-04 Love Calls Us to the Things of this World: Leaders for Social Justice

Instructor: Becky Thompson
T/Th 2:00pm – 3:20pm

The course title comes from a poem by Richard Wilbur that speaks to love for the earth and humanity that is nurtured by a deepening sense of justice and wholeness. This course focuses on several social justice seekers whose work helps to heal the world. In the face of human displacement, environmental degradation, and violence, these leaders offer forms of spiritual activism that are based on expanding one’s consciousness to move us beyond dogmatism, arrogance and greed. Spiritual activism insists on social justice while encouraging us to embrace what it means to be fully human. The course will make room for several contemplative practices—yoga, meditation, free writing, poetry, mindfulness, deep listening and talking circles—as we journey together to help create a world free of racism, xenophobia, sexism, and other oppressions.

LDR 101-05 Breaking the Status Quo: Leadership that Defies Norms

Instructor: Christy Lusiak
T/Th 2:00pm – 3:20pm

This course examines leadership development through various theoretical frameworks. Utilizing the lived experiences of historical and contemporary figures as well as social movements, students will explore and come to understand how we can use our varying identities to become agents of social change in our communities, and redefine how we perceive and experience leadership. We will analyze how race, gender, ethnicity, religion, and other identities impact leadership and the spaces through which we navigate on a daily basis.

LDR 101-06 Leading with Letters

Instructor: Patrick Sylvain
T/Th 2:00pm – 3:20pm

Leaders use and have used writing to change the world. This course will focus on texts that created significant social change and the authors who wrote them. Possible texts include works by Jane Jacobs (a pioneer of urbanism), Rachel Carson (mother of the modern environmental movement), Judith Butler (philosopher of gender as a performance), Barack Obama (the first African-American US President), and Malala Yousafzai (global advocate of girls’ education). Students in this course will think about how and why books and speeches make us think, feel, and act, and how remarkable leaders have harnessed their power to improve the world.

LDR 101-07 Leadership Through Storytelling

Instructor: Farooz Rather
T/Th 2:00pm – 3:20pm

This course is designed to help students sharpen their writing and reading skills in a way so that they could be used as effective tools for leadership. We’ll read a diverse selection of literary texts that stir significant social debate. Our focus is the writing strategies that the authors of these texts use to persuade their audiences into believing their (and often suppressed) side of the story. We’ll also probe the personal lives of these authors. And having learnt how they employ personal narratives to reflect on their social identity, and to state their position about a public debate, we’ll pen our own opinion pieces. Our goal is to use our voice and storytelling skills to lead our audience into thoughtful reflection and, hopefully, action. Throughout the course—and especially in the team project—we will reflect on our own leadership skills and capabilities, including how our leadership is framed by social projections and conditions related to our identities. One of the many questions we’ll raise and attempt to answer is: Is writing a particularly effective tool of leadership/representation for those belonging to groups that have been silenced by the society and whose voices have not been heard?

LDR 101-08 Leadership Through Storytelling

Instructor: Farooz Rather
T/Th 3:30pm – 4:50pm

This course is designed to help students sharpen their writing and reading skills in a way so that they could be used as effective tools for leadership. We’ll read a diverse selection of literary texts that stir significant social debate. Our focus is the writing strategies that the authors of these texts use to persuade their audiences into believing their (and often suppressed) side of the story. We’ll also probe the personal lives of these authors. And having learnt how they employ personal narratives to reflect on their social identity, and to state their position about a public debate, we’ll pen our own opinion pieces. Our goal is to use our voice and storytelling skills to lead our audience into thoughtful reflection and, hopefully, action. Throughout the course—and especially in the team project—we will reflect on our own leadership skills and capabilities, including how our leadership is framed by social projections and conditions related to our identities. One of the many questions we’ll raise and attempt to answer is: Is writing a particularly effective tool of leadership/representation for those belonging to groups that have been silenced by the society and whose voices have not been heard?

LDR 101-09 Civil Discourse: Difficult Conversations in Healthcare

Instructor: Chaluza Kapaale
T/Th 2:00pm – 3:20pm

This Leadership Course explores the everyday leadership competencies necessary for engaging in difficult conversations that generate the momentum for building consensus, defining shared outcomes, and fostering mutually respectful relationships. Students will enhance their knowledge, skills, and attitudes toward civil discourse by engaging in meaningful personal reflection, case analysis, simulation, and discussion of topics that include but are not limited to diversity, equity, inclusion, ethics, social identity, patient’s rights, health disparities, and leadership in healthcare. By the end of the course, students will develop an appreciation for engaging in controversy with civility as one of the essential leadership strategies for transcending complex issues in healthcare.

LDR 101-10 Leading with Letters

Instructor: Kelsey Jaye
T/Th 3:30pm – 4:50pm

Plumbing the question of how writing can make us feel and act, this course focuses on texts that have spurred significant social change and the authors who wrote them. Through study of the rhetorical and literary strategies employed by these writers, we will study how and why works in various genres became effective leadership tools. And then we will import that knowledge and those strategies into our own writing when we pen opinion pieces for the Simmons Voice. Throughout the course—and especially in the team project—we will reflect on our own leadership skills and capabilities, including how our leadership is framed by social projections and conditions related to our identities (and the identities of the authors we study). Is writing a particularly effective tool for leadership for those from groups that have not traditionally been associated with leadership?

LDR 101-11 Being Human in STEM

Instructor: Jennifer Canfield
T/Th 2:00pm – 3:20

This course examines themes of diversity and inclusion within STEM fields. We will explore the intersectionality of race, gender, sexuality, class, and geographic upbringing in the context of a STEM identity with an emphasis on critical reading, discussion, and written reflections. This will culminate in student-led group projects designed that apply themes from the literature and discussions to develop resources for inclusive practice and engage the STEM community. At the conclusion of the course, the students will present their findings and recommendations at a community symposium for faculty, staff, and students.

LDR 101-12 Science and Society

Instructor: Hong Pan
T/Th 2:00pm – 3:20pm

Climate change is the most significant challenge of our times, but is often considered as a scientific issue. While science is essential for understanding climate change and technology is critical for designing solutions, modern climate change is also a human problem caused by the collective behaviors of people and economic activities. Transdisciplinary research studies from humanities and social sciences have demonstrated that technical solutions must be combined with human behavior change interventions such as pro-environmental social identities to become effective, and stronger collaborations across the humanities and sciences are key for effective climate solutions.

In this course, students will have an opportunity to learn about, experiment with, and practice using tools to share evidence-based research studies with a variety of audiences through spoken and written media, including visual arts, editorials, policy briefs and news stories. This course is appropriate for students of any major who have an interest and passion for bridging humanities and sciences and who have a desire to promote positive changes that benefit society.

LDR 101-13 Leadership Through The Lens of A Diversity Officer

Instructor: Rachel Deleveaux
T/Th 3:30pm – 4:50pm

In this course, undergraduate students will embark on a journey to explore the pivotal role of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within leadership contexts. This course weaves together the principles of effective leadership with a thorough understanding of DEI, offering students a multifaceted view of organizational management from the perspective of a Diversity Officer. Throughout the course, students will delve into the strategic development of DEI initiatives, explore the impact of inclusive leadership on organizational culture, and learn to navigate through various DEI-related challenges and crises. Aimed at molding future leaders, this course encourages participants to develop their own inclusive leadership style, ensuring they are well-equipped to foster and champion diverse and inclusive environments in their future endeavors.

LDR 101-14 Breaking the Status Quo: Leadership for Social Justice

Instructor: Meghan Doran
T/Th 2:00pm – 3:20pm

This course examines norms of leadership and how those can be challenged through a variety of frameworks including Queering Leadership and Leadership for Liberation. We will read contemporary and historical leaders to explore how they approach leadership for social justice. We will explore and come to understand how we can use our varying identities to become agents of social change in our communities, and redefine how we perceive and experience leadership. We will analyze how race, gender, ethnicity, religion, and other identities impact leadership and the spaces through which we navigate on a daily basis.

LDR 101-15 Leading with Authenticity

Instructor: Jen Gresham
M 6:00pm – 8:50pm

The world is ever changing with crisis and challenges, both small and large scale. We see problems and opportunities all around us causing many to ask: What type of leader will show us the way to address the challenges facing our society with integrity? According to recent psychological research, authentic leadership energizes, builds trust, and reinforces personal strengths and self-awareness through sincerity, optimism, and a strong moral compass. Case studies and practical experiences will inform our understanding of the roots of authentic and other leadership styles from a psychological perspective. Together, we will consider how social groups and identities, personality traits, moral reasoning, and emotional intelligence shape the development of leadership skills. Authentic leadership relies on open, honest, and respectful discourse with those whose perspectives differ from one’s own. We will practice engaged listening and respectful discourse with others alongside individual work to constructively examine our own biases, beliefs, and behaviors. Through group projects, oral presentations, deep reflection, and written communication, you will strengthen your ability to engage with others and to lead with authenticity to inspire social change.

LDR 101-17 Leading with Letters

Instructor: Kelsey Jaye
T/Th 2:00-3:20pm

Plumbing the question of how writing can make us feel and act, this course focuses on texts that have spurred significant social change and the authors who wrote them. Through study of the rhetorical and literary strategies employed by these writers, we will study how and why works in various genres became effective leadership tools. And then we will import that knowledge and those strategies into our own writing when we pen opinion pieces for the Simmons Voice. Throughout the course—and especially in the team project—we will reflect on our own leadership skills and capabilities, including how our leadership is framed by social projections and conditions related to our identities (and the identities of the authors we study). Is writing a particularly effective tool for leadership for those from groups that have not traditionally been associated with leadership?

LDR 101-18 When Should We Follow/Refuse?

Instructor: Gregory Williams
T 2:00-4:50pm

When we think of history and politics, we often think in terms of ‘leaders.’ Who won a battle? Who was president at the time? Who led the civil rights movement? These are typical questions that seem to presuppose that we know what and who leaders are, and that we prize the concept of leadership. Even Simmons has “branded” itself on the idea that we help to create the next generation of leaders.

But, more recently, there has been a new discussion about “followership.” Perhaps we can’t all be leaders. Perhaps we don’t want to be leaders. But, except for the most isolated hermit, everyone has found themselves in a group where they follow; and, inevitably, everyone will find themselves in a situation that requires following. Typically, following has had a negative connotation, and in this course we will certainly examine—through theory, through dramatic real-life cases, and through practical exercises—the downside of following. But is there a more positive sense of following? Can one become a principled follower, or, as some put it, a “courageous follower”? If so, how?

LDR 101H-01 Coach Approach to Leadership (Honors)

Instructor: Spela Trefalt
T/Th 2:00pm – 3:20pm

Figuring out what you want to do “when you grow up”? Looking for a meaningful job that you enjoy? Trying to spend time on things that matter to you rather than on things you get sucked in? Coaching can help with all these goals and many more. This course makes central coaching as a partnership between a coach and a coachee in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires the coachee to maximize their personal and professional potential. While today many individuals serve as professional coaches or use coaching practices as part of their approach to managing people, coaching is also an approach to leadership with a lowercase l – motivating people to reach valuable goals. We will focus on developing coaching skills through peer coaching, where individuals of equal status support each other’s personal and professional development goals. You will learn how to coach and you will benefit from coaching as well.

LDR 101H-02 Civil Discourse: Difficult Conversations in Healthcare (Honors)

Instructor: Chaluza Kapaale
T/Th 3:30pm – 4:50pm

This Leadership Course explores the everyday leadership competencies necessary for engaging in difficult conversations that generate the momentum for building consensus, defining shared outcomes, and fostering mutually respectful relationships. Students will enhance their knowledge, skills, and attitudes toward civil discourse by engaging in meaningful personal reflection, case analysis, simulation, and discussion of topics that include but are not limited to diversity, equity, inclusion, ethics, social identity, patient’s rights, health disparities, and leadership in healthcare. By the end of the course, students will develop an appreciation for engaging in controversy with civility as one of the essential leadership strategies for transcending complex issues in healthcare.