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Professors Participate in Higher Education Resources Series Summer Institute

Ferris State UniversityProfessors from Ferris State University’s College of Arts, Sciences and Education and College of Business expressed gratitude for the opportunity and insights gained by attending a residential leadership development program this summer.

Professor Lianne Briggs, chair of the Sports, Entertainment and Hospitality department, and Jennifer Johnson, a Geography professor, attended the Higher Education Resources Series Summer Institute, July 9-22 at Bryn Mawr College, in Pennsylvania. Since 2014, the university’s Office of the Provost has annually sponsored a few women to participate in the two-week program.

Briggs said, as part of the Institute’s program, each individual selected to participate develops a leadership project.

“My project will be expanding international exchange opportunities for Ferris students,” Briggs said. “The HERS Institute really helped me to develop a solid plan for my project, which I believe will increase its chances for success.”

Johnson said the opportunity gave her greater insight into leadership in respect to diversity.

“I now can recognize, in a more intentional way than I did before, the great responsibility that leaders have to learn about the wide variety of perspectives that are represented in diverse populations,” Johnson said. “When we value that diversity of experience and opinion, we can find ways to create a synergy in their organizations which validates the voices that are too often minimized and moves the organization forward. Having a mentoring cohort of successful women leaders from across the country is a huge gift, and I made friends that I am certain I will have for a lifetime. My deepest gratitude goes out to Ferris for giving me this opportunity.”

HERS encourages all attendees to actively apply their leadership strengths at their institutions.


PHOTO CAPTION: Ferris State University professors Jennifer Johnson (left) and Lianne Briggs are pictured, respectively, with Higher Education Resources Series director Raymonda "Ray" Burgman, after receiving their certificates, upon completion of the HERS Summer Institute at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, this past July.