We live in a time of growing inequality and shrinking confidence in the capacity of our core institutions to address the complex problems facing our communities. The AAC&U conference, entitled, "Shared Futures/Difficult Choices: Reclaiming a Democratic Vision for College Learning, Global Engagement and Success" was organized around the idea that colleges and universities are uniquely positioned to tackle these complex problems. The Center's panel, "Cultivating Transformative Leadership for Institutional Citizenship," argued that while higher education institutions are theoretically positioned to increase diversity, cultivate leadership and build the knowledge in our communities to solve pressing public problems, the mobilization and actualization of broad-scale change requires transformational leadership. The session shared the results of collaborative research identifying frameworks and strategies for higher education to cultivate transformative leadership equipped to advance full participation and public problem solving, a dual agenda panelists call institutional citizenship. Panelists included the Center's Director Susan Sturm, Nancy Cantor, Chancellor and President, Syracuse University; Shirley Collado, Dean of the College and Chief Diversity Officer, Middlebury College; and George Sanchez, Vice Dean for Diversity and Strategic Initiatives, University of Southern California.

For more information on the panelists' presentations and the Conference, please see the links below:

Susan Sturm's presentation

Annual Meeting 2012 final program