Cultural Leadership Academy Program Evaluation

• In Event: Advancing Equal Justice: Issues, Strategies & Obstacles

Abstract

Dr. Teresa Clark and Dr. Landon Clark, assistant professors at Murray State University (Murray, KY) created Cultural Leadership Academy (CLA), an educational program tailored to police officers. CLA is organized into four in-person training modules focusing on key topics such as social and emotional intelligence and intercultural group dynamics. Upon completion of all four modules, participants receive a certificate, with the opportunity to pursue college credit. Clark and Clark implemented the program in 2016 with the Paducah (KY) Police Department, through collaboration with Assistant Chief Brian Krueger. Using pre- and post-survey data, Clark and Clark conducted an evaluation of the CLA’s effectiveness to accomplish the following 1) increase participants’ level of comfort with four specific dimensions that include social issues regarding multicultural populations; and 2) decrease participants’ perceived need for further training in four key categories, including defining and analyzing social issues regarding multicultural populations. In this session, Clark, Clark, and Krueger will discuss the creation of the CLA, the program itself, as well as the evaluative study. Session attendees will learn about this unique program and partnership, its perceived effectiveness, and implications for future training programs.

Authors

• Teresa Clark, Murray State University

• Landon Clark, Murray State University

• Brian Krueger, Paducah Police Department