State Farm, UNL join to support business leadership initiatives

Leadership development projects in the College of Business Administration at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln designed to promote leadership and networking for student leaders at historically black colleges and to promote leadership development in Lincoln and Omaha are part of a newly funded effort by the State Farm Foundation.

The first project is a week-long program to accelerate the leadership and social networking skills of 40 student leaders from historically black colleges in the United States. The pilot program will be developed by Gallup Leadership Institute at UNL, the Gallup Organization and the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund. The participants will be selected from a pool of 500 students coming from 50 historically black colleges. The students will meet in Washington, D.C., then partner with an adviser/mentor who will coach them through their leadership challenges for the following year. Each participant will also belong to a learning team of peers based on geographical location.

The second project is aimed at fostering leadership development among the next generation of leaders in Omaha and Lincoln over the next 10 to 15 years. The Emerging Leaders Institute will provide a formal program of learning, mentoring and leadership development to support new growth in business opportunities and development in the Lincoln-Omaha metropolitan region. The program will launch in 2007. Both projects will be overseen by Bruce Avolio, director of the UNL-Gallup Leadership Institute.

State Farm presented a check for $100,000 to support the programs to Cynthia H. Milligan, dean of the college, and Avolio at a May 8 luncheon.

"State Farm is very proud to provide this grant to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In addition to showcasing our commitment to key higher education initiatives, it also increases our impact and presence at the university, as well as strengthens our relationship with this prestigious college," said Michael Holmes, State Farm vice president-operations.

"We appreciate the support from State Farm to further our research work on finding out what accelerates leadership development for positive impact for both business leaders as well as students engaged in the Thurgood Marshall program," Avolio said.

CONTACT: Marilyn Hoskins, Public Relations Coordinator, Business Administration, (402) 472-3382