this collection provides insight into my organizational leadership journey at gonzaga university
oRGL 500 Organizational Leadership with Dr. Timothy Keator, Fall 2013
Competencies: This was my first course in the ORGL program. It introduced me to a variety of definitions, styles, behaviors, and characteristics of leadership. It helped me to define my own personal leadership philosophy by giving me more foundational substance which I used to inform my practical experience. My newly defined philosophy was based on the simple concept that effective leaders must have a vision for their future. While enrolled in this course, I also completed the Master’s Level Competency course (COML 518), which provided me direction as I navigated my way through my first APA style paper in this course. Artifacts:
My Preliminary Leadership Philosophy.
An introduction to many of Gonzaga’s leaders through the Mentor Gallery.
A strong desire to continue through the program based on the quality of my experience in this first course.
I am a Zag!
COML 518 Master’s Level Writing with Dr. Giovanni Caputo, Fall 2013
Competencies: I completed this course along with my first course in this ORGL program. The course was useful in helping me understand and use the APA writing style. The course provided many great tips and rules for writing which I found beneficial throughout the rest of the program. Artifacts:
I wrote a short story called Sunny Day of which I am very proud.
oRGL 505 Organizational Theory with Dr. Steven Walker, Fall 2013
Competencies: In this course, I was introduced to leadership concepts I was not previously familiar with and began to learn to view my own organization using different frames and perspectives. This course also offered my first team experience in an online setting in the ORGL program. I was fortunate to be part of an amazing team which gave me strength in team experiences that followed in other courses. Artifacts:
Leadership lessons from bumblebees (metaphorically).
Understanding Gender Intelligence.
Recognizing the lack of women in leadership positions in law enforcement.
Introduction to Prezi.
Experience with various video-chat rooms.
ORGL 502 Leadership and Imagination with Dr. Lunnell Haught, Dr. Kristine Hoover, Suzanne Ostersmith, Dr. Adrian Popa, Dr. Lazarina Topuzova, and Frankie White, Spring 2014
Competencies: I learned to view leadership through the lenses of art, architecture, film, drama, and transcendentalism with intention, intuition and logic. I loved this course, not only for the on-campus aspect, but mainly for the perspectives each of the lessons gave to leadership through utilization of the creative process. Artifacts:
The exciting experience of my first on-campus Gonzaga course.
A horsehair bracelet called, The Leadership Tail, developed through the creative process and which serves as my tangible leadership philosophy and as my memory of this course, the other students in it, and the faculty who presented it.
A moment of utter hilarity during a reading of King Richard III.
Pentimento!
ORGL 504 Organizational Communication with Dr. David Givens, Spring 2014
Competencies: Based on the course requirement to conduct an assessment, I was able to utilize the coursework to analyze communications and leadership in a portion of my own organization which was experiencing extreme dysfunction based on personnel and leadership issues. From the assessment findings and with my guidance, my agency learned ways in which it could improve its communication and enhance its leadership abilities. This was an exciting yet difficult assessment because there was so much at stake if I failed. Artifacts:
A solid communication assessment used to improve communication at my organization’s 911 dispatch center.
An additional communication assessment of my entire department based off of the original assessment completed for the coursework.
A monthly newsletter which has proven to improve communications and increase transparency within my agency.
ORGL 689 Leadership and Hardiness with Dr. Adrian Popa, Summer 2014
Competencies: This was the greatest course of my ORGL experience! Not only did I learn a lot about myself, but I was able to examine how individuals and teams function in adverse situations in a setting that was somewhat controlled, yet still provided a measure of uncertainty. This course turned the “classroom experience” of climbing Mt. Adams into a leadership experiment, of sorts. With a significant focus on resiliency, this course proved most valuable to me in a profession that requires resiliency for emotional survival. Artifacts:
Summiting!
Learning to focus on myself first so I can be stronger for others later.
A renewed joy in fitness.
A great survival story that includes danger, nature, and comedy.
ORGL 501 Methods of Organizational Research with Dr. Barbra Kingsley, Fall 2014
Competencies: Although initially overwhelming, this course guided me through the process of developing a research proposal and provided me with research skills and an understanding of research methods. I learned to develop the theoretical basis and research rationale for my prospective project. Artifacts:
An appreciation for the student helpers at the Foley Center Library.
A well designed research proposal which I never imagined I could accomplish at the beginning of this course.
A greater understanding of generational similarities and differences.
ORGL 506 Leadership and Diversity with Dr. Steven Walker, Fall 2014
Competencies: This course was very interesting and introduced me to many new concepts and ideas that strengthened my intercultural communication and view. Through the process of evaluating my own gender diversity in law enforcement, I gained a greater view of the struggles women encounter(ed) in this profession; especially those who aspire to hold command assignments. Artifacts:
A stronger appreciation for women in law enforcement.
Great pride in my accomplishments as a female law enforcement officer in a command assignment.
ORGL 503 Organizational Ethics with Dr. Larry Chouinard, Spring 2015
Competencies: I gained tools to objectively identify and define ethical dilemmas in the workplace and to identify means of resolution to those dilemmas. The discussions in this course were rich with differences as we all attempted to balance our personal virtues with our abilities to cooperate with one another. The path of the course metaphorically emphasized how each individual has to find this balance in order to be successful and meaningful in the workplace or in life. There is a difference between being right and being understood and respected despite your differences. Artifacts:
Defining my personal worldview of theism.
Cooper’s Ethical Decision Making Model.
Pentimento within C.S. Lewis’ text as I enjoyed many of his works with new eyes.
A newfound respect and acceptance of my mother’s worldview in atheism.
ORGL 690 Contemporary Thoughts on Servant Leadership with Larry Spears, Spring 2015
Competencies: Through this course, the classroom experience with Larry Spears, and the voices of the many outstanding leaders in the classroom, I expanded my appreciation for servant leadership and developed a strong desire to bring servant leadership to law enforcement. The principles of servant leadership fit precisely with the purpose of law enforcement, and this thought helped me to develop my capstone project. Artifacts:
The consideration of how servant leadership is needed in law enforcement.
A paper, not yet published, but recommended to be published by Larry Spears.
An outstanding collection of servant leadership books to fuel my desire.
ORGL 516 Organizational Development with Dr. Lunnell Haught, Spring 2015
Competencies: Of all of the courses I took, I enjoyed this course the least. I did develop an understanding of the different methods used by consultants in Organizational Development and I gained significant knowledge regarding change and change management and how to assess how change will affect an organization in order to best plan and implement change. Artifacts:
Impact Assessment tool.
Change Resistance Estimate tool.
ORGL 550 Team Building and Leadership with Dr. Josh Armstrong, Summer 2015
Competencies: This was a refreshing course to take following my experience in Organizational Development. Team Building and Leadership was an on-campus immersion course which provided me with a hands-on opportunity to take part in and critique the outcome of team building exercises. The skills we practiced in each exercise transferred to the organization; helping each of us see how these exercises could be applied in our own organizations to address specific needs. Artifacts:
Membership in a Wolfpack.
Skills, exercises and tactics to use to build trust, teamwork, problem solving and decision making skills, and communication within groups.
Forming, storming, norming, and performing.
An invaluable collection of team building resources.
A deep rooted disdain for small tarps.
ORGL 551 Advanced Team Building and Leadership with Dr. Josh Armstrong, Summer 2015
Competencies: As a continuation of Team Building, Advanced Team Building added the additional skill of facilitating activities all while be extremely cognizant of the processes, problems encountered along the way, and the outcomes of the activities in order to utilize the teachable moments to enhance the outcomes of the activities themselves. Artifacts:
The ability to complete a Team Building Plan.
An appreciation for debriefing the teaching process.
Taking in the big picture – seeing things from the balcony.
ORGL 680 Leadership Seminar with Dr. Adrian Popa, Fall 2015
Competencies: Through this course, I have been able to bring a final focus to my Gonzaga experience which utilizes the many lessons and competencies each course I have taken has provided me. I have enjoyed the opportunity to go back and review past courses to see how far I have come through this process with Gonzaga. Artifacts:
An enriched Leadership Philosophy - which will continually develop through my experiences.
A completed leadership project; the final component to an experience which once was just a dream.