Leadership Institute expanding at Troy University | News

Troy University’s Institute for Leadership Development is expanding its reach with the addition of an associate director and classroom offerings beyond the Troy Campus and across the globe.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Chris Shannon (ret.) has been named the Institute’s associate director, said Dr. John Kline, the Institute’s director.

“Colonel Shannon is a proven leader who has great skills both in teaching leadership and putting courses online,” Dr. Kline said.

In addition to coordinating leadership conferences and providing consultative services to departments and programs within the University, four years ago the Institute developed a minor in leadership studies on the Troy campus.

A year ago, the Institute began offering classes on the Montgomery Campus, and more courses are being added this year so students can complete the minor.  Dr. Kline hopes within the next year the program will also be available on the Dothan Campus and online through eTroy.

“Many students come to TROY having had some leadership training through high school or civic clubs and organizations and other older learners are also seeking to enhance their leadership ability.  The minor gives those students a chance to build on what they’ve already learned and develop the skills we need in this state, nation and world,” he said.

At its root, both the Institute and its academic minor seeks to develop servant leaders—those who lead in order to help others and the organizations they lead. 

“Effective leaders have a vision for their group, know how to get there, and know how to get others to follow them. That’s our goal – both with our students and with the outside groups with which we work,” Dr. Kline said.

Shannon joins Dr. Kline, Ellis Bush Jr., Chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr. and a group of adjunct instructors including Associate Dean Ivan Merritt, Chanukah Anderson, Jonathan Cellon, Suzanne Welch and others in teaching leadership classes.

Shannon, who retired after a nearly 29-year career in the Air Force, was commander of the University’s Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps and chairman of the Department of Aerospace Studies. Prior to his appointment at TROY, he was director of the online master’s degree Leadership in Warfare Distance Learning Course at Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base. Shannon enlisted in the Air Force in 1983 as an aircraft maintenance specialist and, in 1986, changed career fields to an engineering assistant at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. In 1990, he was commissioned a second lieutenant. He has served as Space and Missiles Crew Commander, Trainer and Evaluator at Schriever Air Force Base, assistant professor of aerospace at Texas A&M; and was Chief of Space Operations USSPACECOM Inspector General at Peterson Air Force Base. He also served as a missile force programmer at Air Force headquarters at the Pentagon.

During his career, he earned the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters and the Air Force Achievement Medal.  Colonel Shannon is completing a doctorate in Education Leadership Policy and Law at Alabama State University.

Sourc: Troy University Office of University Relations