Leaders learning from leaders as an emergent action learning strategy

Abstract

This account of practice describes what three executive leaders in a professional association have learned about action learning and their own practices of organizational renewal. Data are approached narratively and stories are told from the perspectives of diverse educators’ experiences, agency, and expertise. Mature organizations can be revitalized and diversified through the action learning of executive leaders who integrate a new and diverse faculty body into the governance structure and decision-making process. The goal of facilitating diversity goals for established organizations has relevance for universities, schools, businesses, and other learning environments. Public conversations can strengthen the diversity-oriented outreach missions of professional organizations.

Keywords:

• action learning
• professional organizations
• leadership
• diversity

Acknowledgements

We are appreciative of the anonymous reviews that helped guide our revision of the original manuscript. We are grateful for the detailed attention that editorial board member Kath Aspinwall of the United Kingdom provided during the revision process. The organizational mentor storied in the vignettes is Professor Fenwick W. English of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA, the past president whose groundbreaking vision of institutional diversity rejuvenated it and inspired our team-based action learning and documentation of that process herein.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributors

Carol A. Mullen, Ph.D., is Professor of Educational Leadership and US Fulbright Scholar whose work is in China. She researches mentoring and social justice leadership. Her authorships encompass more than 200 refereed articles and 20 books, including The Leadership Identity Journey, Shifting to Fit, and Education Policy Perils.

Mariela A. Rodríguez, Ph.D, is Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her research focuses on school leadership and bilingual education. She serves on the Executive Council of the University Council for Educational Administration.

Tawannah G. Allen, Ed.D, is an Associate Professor at High Point University in Educational Leadership. Her research focuses on success for all children, especially African-American and Latino males. She is actively involved in a University of North Carolina systemwide panel of experts on K-12 educational reform.