Organizational Leadership to join department
By Sarah Haussler
Students studying Organizational Leadership at NKU gained an entire department of resources and faculty when the interdisciplinary program and its variety of majors merged with the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice in 2009.
The merger provided better connections to content areas related to organizational leadership, including public administration, international and political affairs and criminal justice. The merger also brought students into contact with a set of faculty members who are eager to share much expertise in Organizational Leadership related areas.
Dr. Gary Mattson, an associate professor in the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice, strongly supported the merger. With an MPA in Organizational Development, Dr. Mattson has worked in both private and public sectors prior to teaching and clearly recognizes ways in which Political Science disciplines can enhance the Organizational Leadership curriculum.
"Many skills taught in the private sector in the areas of personnel, finance and executive leadership are inclusive within the public sector," Dr. Mattson said. "State, city and county governments utilize these same skill sets. This (merger) will broaden employment opportunities to currently enrolled organizational leadership students, because as baby boomers retire, numerous opportunities will become available in federal, state and local governments."
Students majoring in Organizational Leadership can also take part in extracurricular functions. The Department of Political Science & Criminal Justice supports four student groups (Xi Omega, Zeta Pi Gamma, Phi Alpha Delta, Public Administration Student Society) and encourages students to participate in conferences and applied research partnerships with faculty and community agencies.