The conference will feature students and scholars from the Academy and the Jepson School of Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond examining current leadership issues and practices in relation to Burns' theories. Larraine Matusak, author of the book Finding Your Voice, will keynote the morning program. An evening session, beginning at 7 p.m., will focus in on the application of leadership theory to practice with examples from the current political scene. Panel participants include Burns along with Ronald Heifetz, director of the Leadership Education Project at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and nationally recognized political scientists and authors Barbara Kellerman and Ronald Walters. The evening program is open to the public in the Grand Ballroom Lounge, Stamp Student Union.
Registration is required for the daytime conference.
Burn's book, Leadership, published in 1978, paved the way for the organized, systematic study of leadership beyond idolized individuals. His philosophies provided the foundation for development of the academy at Maryland upon the idea that there is leadership within every person. As Senior Scholar with the academy, Burns has seen his theories turned into practice as the academy became a comprehensive academic enterprise. It is the only organization of its kind dedicated exclusively to leadership education, research and training for persons interested in public leadership. A gala reception and dinner at the Library of Congress will provide the setting for prominent Washingtonians, key elected officials and members of the academic community to celebrate the academy's new name and expanded programs.