Senator Justin Alfond Selected for Leadership Program
June 17, 2009 -
AUGUSTA-Senator Justin Alfond (D-Cumberland County) was selected to participate in the 2009 Program for Emerging Political Leaders, sponsored by the State Legislative Leaders Foundation and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia.
“I am honored to be selected to participate in this program. This is a great opportunity to touch base with my legislative peers throughout the US, to learn from them and share our experiences,” Senator Alfond said. “I look forward to attending and will bring the best of Maine to the Leadership Program.”
The Emerging Political Leaders program is held every year on the campus of the University of Virginia for a select group of state legislators who have been nominated by the Speaker of the House, President of the Senate or Minority Leader from their state. Leaders are asked to nominate one or more members who by their actions have demonstrated those qualities we associate with leadership—integrity, compassion, intelligence, vision, and common sense.
The goal of this program is to inspire the men and women selected to participate to continue careers in public service. Class discussions will examine qualities and characteristics of leadership including: ethical leadership, the art of compromise and coalition building and the philosophical underpinnings of representative democracy. The discussions will be lead by Professor Ed Freeman, the Elis and Signe Olsson Professor of Business Administration at the Darden School and co-director of the Olsson Center for Applied Ethics. A distinguished UVA faculty along with Dr. Thomas Little, Curriculum Director of the State Legislative Leaders Foundation, will join Dr. Freeman.
As Stephen G. Lakis, President of the State Legislative Leaders Foundation, has noted “These legislators represent the best and the brightest, and are destined for future leadership roles in their state. After being with these people for several days, you can’t help but feel proud and more confident about our unique system of representative democracy. They are just that good!”
Senator Alfond is one of only fifty state legislators chosen from a nationwide pool of outstanding applicants.
