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The Leadership Studies Certificate Program at Western Kentucky University was launched in the spring of 2003 with a few students and housed in a borrowed office in Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center. Three students completed the program that first semester, but news of the program spread and more students joined the program that fall.
Dr. Cecile Garmon was named Interim Director on a part-time basis while continuing her graduate faculty duties in the Communication Department. After serving as office associate for several different WKU departments, Mrs. Linda Brumit joined as the first full-time employee. In 2005 Cindy Ehresman brought her extensive business and industry experience to the Center in the role of Program Coordinator; John Baker retired as WKU's Professor of Military Science in 2006 and became the Education Coordinator. Over the ensuing years Leadership Studies has also received support from outstanding student workers and graduate assistants. From 2004 until 2011 Leadership Studies occupied the ground floor of Cravens Library as the Center for Leadership Excellence (CLE). A Steering Committee composed of faculty and staff from across WKU has served as overseers of the program until it was moved into the University College in 2008. Currently, the CLE is located with other University College units in Tate Page Hall 220.
The first Leadership Banquet was held in November of 2003, in conjunction with the Student Affairs week-long celebration of student leadership. Students from across the campus were invited to attend. This annual banquet now honors students nominated by their various department heads, deans, coaches, sponsors and professors as the outstanding student leaders in those areas.
In 2008 Dr. Nevil Speer brought an existing master’s degree program to the CLE and it became the Master of Arts in Leadership Dynamics. In 2010 the Center inaugurated the Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership so that now WKU offers programs at all levels in the study of leadership.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the Center for Leadership Excellence November 17, 2004
The following students have served as Leadership Studies Graduate Assistants:
Shailesh Advani
Chrissie Ashburn
Michael Bolton
Katie Dawson
Pragati Gole
Kaci Grant
Whitney Greene
Nelson Heard
Brentni Henderson
Johana Lopez
Derrick Lottes
Ross Love
Wes Meares
Elena Pak
Meghan Purdy
Sweta Sengupta
Li Zhao
The following students have served as Leadership Studies Student Workers:
Pradeep Aramulla
Natalie Denney
MacKenzie Keaster
Brittany Kittleman
Venkat Reddy Kotta
Amanda Loviza
Hannah Morris
Claire Priddy
