Helping College Students Find the Potential within

Reviews / Votes

If you haven't yet read Deeper Learning in Leadership: Helping College Students Find the Potential Within, a piece of you is missing. In this inspiring book, Dr. Denny Roberts addresses the questions and concerns that all educators face when creating an effective leadership development curriculum and forging a learning culture where academic inquiry influences the hearts and souls of students. I recommend this book for all leadership educators on- or off-campus, novice or expert. For new professionals in education and consulting, one of the most daunting tasks is to learn the history and development of the field. Dr. Roberts provides an informative and concise history of higher education administration and student life that applies widely to American colleges. His nimble description demystifies the traditional organizational structure of our higher education institutions and makes clear recommendations for improvement and change. Deeper Learning in Leadership also provides extensive advice on creating and improving a leadership development program that begins with the basics (determining values and needs) and provides guidance through very advanced concepts (changing the culture of a campus to promote effective learning and leadership learning). Though the book focuses on leadership development programs, it discusses college campuses holistically and shares a vision of a campus that deliberately engages students in academic inquiry and personal, emotional and social development along every step of the way. A book of this nature could easily be intimidating. But at only about 200 pages, this work is written in a way that leaves the reader feeling empowered and invigorated. Almost from the moment I started reading, I shuttered with joy (truly joy!) at having stumbled upon such a valuable text. Every page reflects the sophisticated lessons learned over the course of Dr. Roberts' career. Every chapter feels like an intimate discussion with an established mentor. The book is at once an inspiration and a relief. In short, no summary of this book could do it justice. Deeper Learning in Leadership is a worthwhile read for anyone interested or employed in higher education and/or leadership development. I know that I will reread this book many times throughout my career, that I will rely on it as a reference, and that it has provided me with a sturdy foundation for my own inquiry into the field of leadership.--Miles Ashlock, associate director for leadership development in the Office of Student Life at the University of California, Santa Barbara