Director Who Led The Way Moves On To Lead Others

We sadly bid Dr. Chris Riordan a fond farewell as she is leaving the Terry College of Business at the end of July to accept a position at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas. She will be the Associate Dean for External Relations in the Neeley School of Business. Additionally, Riordan will be the Luther Henderson University Chair in Leadership.

Chris Riordan has been involved with the ILA since its inception. She served on the initial faculty committee, appointed by Dean P. George Benson, which worked to create the Institute. She was then appointed director in 2001. Since that time, Riordan has led the ILA to phenomenal growth and success to include six programs serving more than 200 undergraduate students and over 150 different corporations. The Institute for Leadership Advancement has become one of the most comprehensive leadership development and research institutes to exist within a university setting anywhere in the country.

More than 100 Terry College faculty and staff turned out for a garden party and luncheon June 21 to bid farewell to Bob Gatewood, who is retiring from the Terry College Associate Dean's office, and Chris Riordan. In ceremonies held in the Mary Virginia Terry Garden between Sanford and Brooks Halls, Gatewood and Riordan were recognized for their dedicated service and leadership with their children, seven-year-old Mikaela and five-year-old Mason, looking on. The couple received a pewter plate as a farewell gift, inscribed to them and bearing the engraved signatures of dozens of Terry faculty and staff.

"This is a very sad occasion on one hand, but a very happy occasion also," said Dean George Benson, referring to the positions Riordan and Gatewood recently accepted on the management faculty at TCU's M.J. Neeley School of Business in Fort Worth. Benson said the Terry College has made leadership development the foundation underlying all its activities with the help of the programs Riordan has led. "She's helped us develop and nurture that purpose," Benson said. "She's been a remarkable star for us on the faculty, and we're very sorry to see her go."

"I have had an amazing ten years at the Terry College of Business," said Chris Riordan. "We are definitely sad to be leaving all of our Terry friends and colleagues, but we also realize that everyone will always be a part of our lives and memories. I look forward to watching from Texas for all of the future great things to be accomplished by ILA and Terry. And, will simply feel honored and proud that I was once a part of these top programs and had the opportunity to work with such great people. Thank you."

Cornwell Named ILA Interim Director

Dr. Chris Cornwell, Leonard Leadership Scholars Program Director and Economics Professor, has been named interim director for the Institute for Leadership Advancement. Given his current involvement with the Institute and experience as a long-time faculty member, Chris is extremely qualified to lead the ILA during this time of transition. In the meantime, the Terry College of Business plans to conduct a national search for the ILA Director position. Dean Benson has already appointed a search committee to fill this important post. The committee is being chaired by Rick Watson, J. Rex Fuqua Distinguished Chair for Internet Strategy and Director of CISL in the Department of Management Information Systems. Committee members include Chris Cornwell, Professor of Economics and ILA Interim Director, Mark Dawkins, Associate Professor of Accounting, Mel Crask, Director of MBA Programs, Marisa Pagnattaro, Assistant Professor of Legal Studies, and Bob Vandenberg, Professor of Management. A new director should be in place by early 2006.

ILA Photo Gallery
Check out pictures from ILA events.

ILA and Terry College Alumnus Killed in Iraq

A public memorial service for Army 1st Lt. Noah Harris was held Saturday, June 25 -- on what would have been his 24th birthday -- at the First United Methodist Church in Ellijay, GA. A 2003 graduate of the Terry College of Business, Harris was killed June 18 in Baquba, Iraq, while on duty with the 3rd Infantry Division.

Harris was one of the inaugural members of the Leonard Leadership Scholars Program, which was launched by the Terry College's Institute for Leadership Advancement in August 2001. The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks happened while Harris was undergoing the initial self-assessment portion of the program, which he later remembered as the point at which he began considering public service through joining the military.

Harris joined UGA's Army ROTC program and after graduating with a degree in finance was commissioned as a second lieutenant. After his initial training as an infantry officer, he was stationed at Fort Benning. Harris called on family and friends, as well as Terry's Leonard Scholars, to help keep his soldiers' morale up with a pen pal program. To read more about Noah click here.

Latest Scholar Leaders In Place

The 2005 graduating class results are in, and they have secured some fine placements. We wish them well and know that they will lead with integrity. Companies included are: Accenture, Bank of America, BB&T, Burson-Marsteller, Capital Investment Advisors, Chick-fil-A, Dixon Hughes, Ernst & Young, Fitzgerald & Co., FTI Consulting, Goldman Sachs, Henderson Shapiro, Home Depot, JP Morgan, KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey.

Scholarly Summer

The 2nd year scholars explored future career options this summer across the world in a variety of study abroad, travel and internship positions including: Study abroad in Peru, Italy, China and Guatemala; Chick-fil-A, Walgreens, Collective IQ, Philip Morris, Coca-Cola, Gwinnett Co. Schools, and Ernst & Young in Atlanta; ComCare Alliance, Coca-Cola, King & Spalding and The Washington Center in DC; UBS, IRU, Lehman Bros., and JP Morgan in NYC; P&G in Cincinnati and Philadelphia; and closer to home in Athens, Clearwater and Greenville.

The Year Ahead for LLSP

The focus for the LLSP this coming year was discussed in a day-long planning session in June. Some goals are to further detail the budget, combine the welcome back BBQ with the mentor orientation to facilitate earlier connections between all involved, and establish an alumni committee. All major events of previous years will take place again this year. Discussion concerning speaking events included limiting quantity and improving quality, consolidating communications between program and participants, and maintaining current marketing efforts. Continued development of the website features for scholars as well as coordinating group community service efforts with the L.E.A.D. program were other topics of discussion. Future events include:

Welcome Back BBQ/Mentor Orientation - Wednesday, August 31, 6:00 PM, Memorial Park

Retreat - Friday-Sunday, January 20-22, 2006, St. Simons Island

Graduation Banquet - Saturday, May 6, 2006, 6:00 pm, Athens Country Club

The Year Ahead for L.E.A.D.

The L.E.A.D Certificate program recently held a planning meeting on June 9. Topics discussed included updating current approved electives and the process for adding additional electives; monitoring student attendance at events; duties of the class officers; and marketing strategies for the program. The budget was reviewed as well as individual staff responsibilities and communication issues. Future events include:

Annual Ropes Course - Saturday and Sunday, September 24 and 25, Lake Herrick

Welcome Back dinner - Tuesday, August 30, 6:00 PM, Taco Mac

Fall Hail and Farewell - Friday, December 9

Spring Graduation Ceremony - to be announced