Johns Hopkins’ Leadership Fellows program launched 10 years ago. Its mission: to educate alumni and volunteer leaders on all aspects of Johns Hopkins. The goal of the program is to develop leaders who have broader context and insight into Johns Hopkins University as a whole, hence making them more knowledgeable in board, council, and university leadership roles. Every two years a small cohort of current and future volunteers are nominated to embark on this experiential educational journey.
The Leadership Fellows come from a rich array of backgrounds, experiences, and professional paths. During the two-year curriculum, fellows learn about Johns Hopkins on both a macro and micro level. Courses taught by university leaders include those on institutional finance, academic structure, and mission and governance. Fellows have sessions with divisional deans and university-wide program directors and take behind-the-scenes tours of new and still-being-constructed buildings. Each leg of the journey is aimed at providing the fellows a detailed, on-the-ground perspective, thus deepening their ability to assist deans and leadership in advancing the Hopkins mission as divisional and institutional volunteers.
The Leadership Fellows program has now graduated four cohorts, with the fifth completing the curriculum this June. Of the 115 alumni of the program, many are currently members of divisional or department boards and councils. Notably, several have gone on to serve in broader capacities, such as on the university board or as divisional board or council chairs. Through this deep engagement, including insight into how philanthropy fuels Hopkins’ work, many of the Leadership Fellows have made meaningful gifts to further important university priorities.
The word “fellow” is intentional. Fellowship, community, and collaboration are key to the experience. Participants have a unique entry into their volunteer leadership service at Hopkins; coming together as a cohort to learn and serve expands their knowledge and experience.
“Service is different for everyone. The Leadership Fellows program shines a light on Hopkins so that alumni can identify how they can best serve. And along the way, we meet other incredible people from across the university,” states Sylvia Morris, MD, BSPH ’97 (MPH), who currently serves as a member of the advisory board for the Berman Institute of Bioethics.
Getting a view of the university from a big-picture perspective is also a valuable experience that enables divisional volunteers to enrich their understanding of Hopkins and its mission and to rededicate themselves to their work.
“Participating in the Leadership Fellows cohort reinforced how fortunate I am to be part of such an important institution. The program helped me develop a global appreciation for how Hopkins really functions and connected me with a broad range of fascinating fellow Blue Jays,” shares Marshall Urist, MD, PHD, A&S ’98, who serves on the Krieger School’s advisory board.
Strong advocates connected with the resources, connections, and context needed to lead — the Leadership Fellows have been an incredible resource for Johns Hopkins for 10 years, with many more to come.
Topics: Alumni, Friends of Johns Hopkins Medicine, Johns Hopkins, Strengthening Partnerships