Pre-Conference Workshop

Thursday, February 5th, 2009

9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Fee: $25 (lunch is included)

An Introduction to Strengths-based Development

Presenters:

Mark Pogue

Larry Braskamp

Pre-Conference Description

You never have a conversation about good art without the word talent coming up. Talent is inextricably linked to best performances whether we are talking about a painting, music, or a feat of athleticism that amazes us. Great talent helps us transcend the ordinary and helps us see our potential as human beings. But talent is not limited to the arts or athletics. Each of us possesses talent that highlights our unique ability to do something to excellence. Our challenge is to take our talent and develop it into strengths that contribute to our success. This presentation will highlight Gallup research into human talent that provides all of us the opportunity to explore our unique talents, and strategies for applying our talent in ways that help us be more productive and successful in any role.

Objectives:

* Introduce the principles of talent, Clifton StrengthsFinder Themes and strengths development
* Experience the positive impact of strengths development through an exploration of the individuals own strengths
* Activities and discussion designed to encourage self-reflection, self-awareness and development
* Activities and discussion to introduce Faculty and staff to the potential of strengths-based development for students

Benefits:

* Faculty and staff will acquire a perspective that stresses strengths in understanding themselves

* Faculty and staff will learn of their own strengths by taking the Clifton StrengthsFinder and discussing their strengths with others

* Faculty and staff will have a language about the use of a strengths perspective and language in developing students

Presenters:

Mark Pogue leads the Gallup Higher Education Division. His mission is to create a world where all students of any age lead successful and self-directed lives, empowered with the knowledge of their talents and how to apply them. For the past eight years, Pogue has been a consultant and speaker to higher education and K-12 audiences on building strengths-based organizations.  Pogue participated in the design and creation of the StrengthsQuest program and continues to direct the project worldwide.  Since its inception, more than 400,000 students have participated in StrengthsQuest programs in a wide range of settings on more than 400campuses. Prior to joining Gallup in 2000, Pogue was the director of a nonprofit youth organization for 13 years. He earned his bachelor's degree in management science from Oklahoma State University and a graduate degree at the University of Nebraska.

Larry A. Braskamp currently is Senior Scientist at The Gallup Organization, Professor Emeritus at Loyola University Chicago, Central College Distinguished Alumni Professor, and Senior Fellow at the American Association of Colleges and Universities. He began his career at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology and as the Assistant to the Chancellor at UNL before going to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and then to the University of Illinois at Chicago as Dean of the College of Education, and then as Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Loyola University Chicago.  He served as the first Executive Director of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). He is co-author of several research papers and books, including Putting Students First: Assessing Faculty Work, and the survey, Global Perspective Inventory.