The Nelson and Sue Andrews Institute for Civic Leadership opened its new academic program and state-of-the-art facility in a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday.
Mayor Karl Dean, Sue Andrews (wife of the late Nelson Andrews), President Randy Lowry and local civic entrepreneurs and business leaders took part in the ceremony.
Lipscomb University’s new academic Institute was founded upon the legacy of Nashville business leader Nelson Andrews. The Institute will provide upcoming leaders and students with needed education and training to enhance their abilities to succeed in becoming effective and competent civic leaders.
Linda Peek Schacht, a former senior fellow at Harvard University’s Center for Public Leadership and Center for Business and Government, is executive director of the new institute.
“We believe that the idea of collaborative civic leadership is where business, non-profit, and government leaders come together to find common-good solutions to challenges we are facing in today’s society, and I believe by coming together we can accomplish that,” said Schacht.
The Nelson and Sue Andrews Institute for Civic Leadership will be opening in the fall of 2011 offering academic degrees and community outreach. “I am so excited to take Nelson Andrews’ model of leadership to train students to represent and embody the characteristics of a civic leader,” said Schacht.
The program has been designed to help build thriving civic leaders within and beyond the Nashville community, while also offering higher education in civic leadership.
It is one of the only two master’s programs in the country to offer academic degrees in leadership through providing education in a classroom setting, accordign to Schacht. “The Institute’s state-of-the-art collaboratory will allow current leaders and students to connect and learn from leadership scholars and leaders from across the globe while building community and developing local civic innovations.”
“President Lowry’s vision and the support of the Andrews family have moved the Institute from idea to creation, and now I can only hope for future growth and success,” said Schacht.