The Institute for Women’s Leadership, Social Responsibility, and Global Awareness was established in the fall of 2010 to support Cottey College’s mission to promote the education of women as “learners, leaders, and citizens.” In 2014, the Institute was named in recognition of a major gift to the College by Thelma Serenbetz. The Institute’s vision is to become a premier women’s leadership program, employing focused research, innovative instruction, and life-long mentorship to equip Cottey graduates for excellence of responsible leadership globally.
Each of Cottey’s four-year baccalaureate programs incorporates the three vital themes for which the Institute is named: the themes of women’s leadership, social responsibility, and global awareness. Under the auspices of the Institute, these same emphases shape still further courses and events offered to the Cottey campus and Nevada community. While some of these offerings may be incorporated directly into the classroom, others may include special workshops, conferences, or speakers.
Specific initiatives sponsored and promoted by the Institute include the following:
- Leadership, Experiences, and Opportunity (LEO) program providing students a personalized approach to leadership identity development through hands-on experience and reflection;
- Undergraduate Research Grants for students and faculty to pursue research on leadership and its development within their academic disciplines;
- Leadership Immersions, involving academic study or personal enrichment travel concerning women’s leadership, social responsibility, or global awareness in students’ disciplines;
- Summer Leadership Internships, providing opportunities for students to explore leadership within a community, governmental, political, or non-profit organization;
- Leadership library including educational resources, assessments, supplies, and technology;
- Seminars, speakers, and workshops promoting understanding of issues influencing women’s leadership in a changing world;
- Courses in Organizational Leadership, with an emphasis on Women’s Leadership which may contribute to the completion of a Bachelor of Arts, a minor, or the Certificate in Organizational Leadership.