Academic centers express institution missions in the community
Word is getting around about the Hmong Studies minor now offered by the Center for Hmong Studies at Concordia University, St. Paul. Lee Pao Xiong, director of the center, can attest to this based on the barrage of e-mails he receives. "Our minor is the only one in the world and people contact me from all over asking about it," he said. "In the second year of the program, we have 10 undergraduates who take seven Hmong-specific courses."
Centers and institutes exist on nearly every campus of Minnesota's private colleges and universities. They have wide-ranging purposes, but all serve audiences beyond their students — they connect academics and the community. In fact, for many of them, it's a way to express their mission in their communities.
Take the example of the Center for Hmong Studies. The Hmong people are dispersed around the world because of wars and instabilities; many have settled in the St. Paul neighborhood near Concordia University and attended or received services from the school. "We are a natural choice for a Center for Hmong Studies," said Dr. Robert Holst, Concordia's president. "We have established relationships with the Hmong community and they see us as a welcoming, neutral and enriching place. We are committed to promoting and advancing the study of their rich heritage."
Noted Hmong scholar and author Zhang Xiao from China visited the Center earlier this year.
The Center is becoming a go-to place for students, scholars, researchers, the media and community members who have an interest in Hmong history, culture and language. Since opening in 2004, it has had 4,000 visitors. The Hmong Archives Collection — an independent nonprofit with 4,000 books and 2,000 video and audio tapes — is now based there. The Center also hosts the public affairs radio program "Haiv Hmong," holds frequent public lecture events and actively supports and conducts research. In partnership with the Women's Environmental Institute, the Association for the Advancement of Hmong Women and Ready 4 K, the Center is assessing the impact of perfluorochemical (PFC) on Hmong families and individuals living in the East Metro area of the Twin Cities. (PFCs are manmade chemicals used in nonstick cookware, stain-resistant carpets and fire-fighting foam; studies of their health affects are still underway.)
On the weekend of April 11-12, the center will host its second annual International Conference on Hmong Studies. More than 500 people are expected to attend the conference to hear Dr. Jacques Lemoine, a researcher about the Hmong since 1950, and other speakers and presenters. "We hope the conference will encourage more focus on Hmong research and help attract young people to the field," Xiong said. "We are creating a place for high quality interdisciplinary study that benefits our state and the world."
Developing ethical leaders
Across the river in Minneapolis, the Hendrikson Institute for Ethical Leadership, a collaborative partnership with Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, is another example of private college outreach.
Aiming to nurture and develop ethical and globally-oriented leaders, the Institute was established by Saint Mary's alumnus Bill Hendrickson in 1988. "There are attitudes that are important for ethical leadership and we believe that we are uniquely qualified to help instill them in our leaders," said Lindsay McCabe, the Institute's executive director. As part of its Lasallian mission, Saint Mary's provides education in the Catholic tradition. "This means we seek to awaken, nurture and empower learners to ethical lives of service and leadership," said McCabe.
Among the institute's offerings are a Servant-Leader Training Academy which teaches participants to lead by serving and modeling ethical behavior, as well as a Corporate Directors Academy for current and aspiring board members of non-profit organizations and corporations. "A Business Owner's Roundtable of about a dozen small business owners — mostly minority — formed with the Metropolitan Economic Development Association, get together every month to talk about ethical issues they face. At a recent meeting, the group talked about opportunities for developing leaders in their companies. "They look for people who share their values," said McCabe, "and they have to ‘walk the talk' — modeling the honesty, integrity and appreciation for diversity that they want their employees to demonstrate."
The Institute is hosting "Forum 2008" on April 30. This inaugural event of an annual speaker series and ethical leadership award presentation will feature a keynote by John Mickelthwait, editor-in-chief of The Economist. Former Cargill chairman Warren Staley and his wife Mary Lynn Staley will receive the first award for their contributions to ethical leadership.
"The Institute provides training and programming that is delivered to diverse groups of people working in a variety of settings. It enables people to explore ethical issues and Saint Mary's to serve the community," McCabe said.