Leadership for Adult Development: Lessons in Capacity-Building From the University Classroom and Real-Life Practice

• In Event: Preparing School Leaders With Theory and Practice

Abstract

Scholars and practitioners seek to improve leadership programs so educational leaders can more effectively support adult development—their own and others, given complexity of contemporary leadership. This paper describes survey-and interview-based research investigating how a university course on leadership for adult development influenced graduates’ on-the-ground practices for supporting adult development years after course completion. In this paper we a) describe course goals, structures and curricula; b) highlight practices leaders now employ to support adult development in their contexts; and c) briefly describe challenges they face and supports they request to enable them to do this work even better. This investigation offers insight into how university leadership courses can help leaders transfer learning to the practice of supporting adult development.

Authors

• Eleanor E. Drago-Severson, Teachers College, Columbia University

• Anila Asghar, McGill University

• Jessica Blum, Teachers College, Columbia University