The Nelson A. Rockefeller Center at Dartmouth College aspires to inspire and energize undergraduates to become effective leaders in their communities and to cherish and participate in democracy on the state, national and international stages throughout their lives. Over the past five years, the Rockefeller Center has been building a comprehensive program to engage students in and out of the classroom, on and off campus, to reach this goal.
Through a generous gift from the Corrigan family in 2009, the Rockefeller Center will build upon innovative programs specifically aimed at developing leadership qualities in students at every phase of their Dartmouth careers. These programs include a capstone leadership fellows program, new curriculum in leadership, a public policy minor, off-campus internships, civic skills training, student discussion groups, and a policy research shop.
The Center's plan for expanding and enhancing leadership offerings over the next several years in contained in our Statement of Principles for Leadership Development [Pdf].
The Rockefeller Center Leadership Programs Include:
The Public Policy Minor, an interdisciplinary selection of courses to acquire the tools of public policy analysis, learn about public policy challenges, and investigate and propose possible solutions.
The Public Policy Minor is open to Dartmouth undergraduates from all majors who seek a coherent program of study in the broadly defined field of public policy. This program prepares students for careers in a variety of policy-related fields, including jobs in policy analysis, policy research, nonprofit organizations, and as consultants for business and government entities. Intentionally flexible and broad in scope, the program draws faculty from across the social sciences and interdisciplinary programs.
Over the next two years, the Rockefeller Center will introduce a three-course sequence focusing on leadership, beginning with "PBPL 47: Foundations of Leadership: Theory and Practice." These courses are integrated with the Public Policy Minor but open to all students. Learn more about the Public Policy Minor. For more information contact Professor Ron Shaiko, Senior Fellow and Associate Director of Curricular and Research Programs.
The Policy Research Shop, in which teams of students conduct research on behalf of the New Hampshire and Vermont state legislatures, with many students having the opportunity to testify on their findings. Learn more about the Policy Research Shop and the Policy Research Shop Reports. For more information contact Professor Ron Shaiko, Senior Fellow and Associate Director of Curricular and Research Programs.
Public Lectures by nationally and internationally known policy makers, scholars, and commentators that expose students to a range of viewpoints. Many of the Center's recent public lectures are now available on the Dartmouth College YouTube Channel.
Over the past five years, the Rockefeller Center has cultivated leadership skills in two key programs, Civic Skills Training and the Rockefeller Leadership Fellows Program. While skill development will always play a role in those two programs, the Rockefeller Center now seeks to expand those opportunities to a larger group of students on campus prior to their senior year through the Management and Leadership Development Program (MLDP).
The MLDP curriculum aims to develop the management skills of students and prepare them to explore and reflect on leadership issues. MLDP consists of nine weekly sessions, all to be completed within a given term. This program will debut in the winter or spring term of 2010 and be offered fall, winter, and spring thereafter. To participate in this program, students must register and complete an application. Learn more about the MLDP. For more information about participating in this exciting new opportunity contact Sadhana Hall, Associate Director for Student and Public Programs.
Civic Skills Training, a five-day intensive internship training program in Washington to help students be effective in their internships. Learn more about the Rockefeller Center's Civic Skills Training Program. For more information contact Sadhana Hall, Associate Director for Student and Public Programs.
Rockefeller Leadership Fellows, a senior year experience to learn leadership skills, reflect on lessons learned in college, and prepare for life beyond Dartmouth. Learn more about the Rockefeller Leadership Fellows Program and read about the 2009-2010 Fellows. For more information contact Sadhana Hall, Associate Director for Student and Public Programs.
The First Year Fellows Program, which combines the initial coursework from the Public Policy Minor with Civic Skills Training and a summer internship in Washington with a Dartmouth alumnus/a serving as a mentor. Learn more about the First Year Fellows Program. For more information contact Sadhana Hall, Associate Director for Student and Public Programs.
Internship Funding for students to take leave term, unpaid internships in the public and non-profit sectors. Learn more about the Center's Internship Program. For more information contact Sadhana Hall, Associate Director for Student and Public Programs.
Discussion Groups, student-directed sessions in six different areas including law, politics, and leadership that enable students to learn, speak, and reflect on public policy issues in a diverse group. Learn more about the Rockefeller Center's Discussion Groups. For more information contact Sadhana Hall, Associate Director for Student and Public Programs.
