Arriving for UVA Summer Leadership Training
by Sean Wetmore
The inaugural class of Chesapeake Bay Fellows began their second year with an early August trip to Charlottesville to participate in a program designed by the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. Following a year learning about “Leading Self,” they are now charged to explore “Leading Others” in the coming year. Our trip to Charlottesville both challenged and informed the fellows and helped set the table for what we all know will be an excellent year of discovery, growth, and change. The Fellows first met with Ben Skipper, Director of Undergraduate Programs (?) and Alumni Relations with the Jefferson Scholars Foundation, who provided a tour of the Jefferson Scholars new state-of-the-art-facility and shared details of the program with the fellows. After a spirited question and answer session, the Fellows and Mr. Wetmore enjoyed dinner together and took some time to speak about the Fellows’ upcoming team projects.
Working with Dr. Hoegge
The experience also included a journey to the Batten School to meet with Mr. Howard Hoege, Assistant Dean for Admissions and Strategic Initiatives, who had met with the fellows in a leadership session during the school year, and now treated them to a session entitled “Articulate and Motivate: Moving from Individual to Group Goals”. The Fellow also enjoyed a working lunch with Joseph Maroon, former Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and adjunct professor at the University of Virginia, who talked about the impact of current Bay policy on restoration efforts.
Dr. Jeffrey Plank, UVA
The day concluded with the Fellows playing the Chesapeake Bay Game, presented by Dr. Jeffrey Plank, Associate Vice President for Research, and his wonderful staff.
The Bay Game
The game showed our fellows the frustrations and rewards of setting effective and realistic policy goals and navigating the landscape of competing interests.
On Friday the fellows met with Jill Rockwell, Assistant Dean for Student Services, who led a session called “Public Leaders toward a Better Society: The Ethics of Leadership.” This session was followed by Dean of the Batten School Harry Harding, who spoke with the students about leadership and public policy. We were also joined by Professor Bill Shobe, with the Center for Economic and Policy Studies. Later that afternoon our Fellows met with University (UVA?) field experts, each hand picked for our fellows to discuss their Year Two team projects. The fellows are ready to embark on their team projects this fall and feel very fortunate to have a true working relationship with The Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. The Fellows’ second year goal is to galvanize the NA community and their projects this year will push our community ever closer towards the goal of Saving the Bay.