By Kenneth Mullinax/ASU
Maxwell's Air University's Innovation Accelerator Eagle Institute (Air University) conducted a day-long leadership and critical analysis training program with Alabama State University President, Dr. Quinton T. Ross, Jr. and the members of his cabinet on July 30.
The Air University training was led by Jeremy VanEgmond, chief of the Eagle Institute, who shared that the training is a connection point between the Department of Defense, local academia and business/industry. The goal is to take the ideas and beliefs of the students who complete the course and interject the concepts taught by the Air University, which he feels will move the students one step beyond, so as to better equip them to be even better leaders.
"In our program with ASU, we use the principals of innovation and conceptual thinking that allows us to better stimulate the University's leadership's innovation and analysis skills to allow it to better respond to its mission of educating its students and advancing its campus," VanEgmond said. "It is the goal of our training to accomplish some fruitful take-aways to better lead ASU and allow its leaders to find more opportunities for partnerships between the school and the Air University; especially in terms of research in developing projects to improve student success and in promoting national security."
VanEgmond believes that in reflecting on Alabama State's training, he anticipates that it will have a positive impact on the school, the Air University and the community at large.
"The ultimate goal that we accomplished in our six-hours of training with President Ross's leaders was to both sharpen the team's critical thinking skills and to better understand one another, so as to serve the University and its students in a greater way," stated VanEgmond.
The training was organized on behalf of President Ross by Colonel (retired) Gregory Clark, who serves as ASU's vice president of Institutional Advancement and the executive director of the ASU Foundation. He explained that this kind of training will help advance Alabama State University’s mission even farther.
"I understand the necessity and the importance of reinforcing critical thinking skills and leadership tactics for all of us who serve this history-making institution," Col. Clark said. "With the President's authorization, we put together with Maxwell's Air University, a one-day course with Dr. Ross's presidential cabinet to advance our team's skills to respond even greater to our student's needs and so our President's leaders may have an even more successful year in every aspect."
Col. Clark hopes to build on ASU's positive relationship with the Air University and Maxwell Air Force Base (Maxwell).
"We have a very able and educated cabinet serving with President Ross, and working more closely with the Air University and Maxwell will enable us all to build on our existing relationship with both entities and to obtain our ultimate goal of moving ASU even further," stated Col. Clark.