Boundless Science Season 2: All About UF CALS Leadership Institute with Dr. Natalie Coers

This episode is part of the Boundless Science Series on Streaming Science. The title of this episode is All About UF CALS leadership Institute with Dr. Natalie Coers. Dr. Natalie Coers is a instructional assistant professor at the University of Florida. In this podcast Dr. Coers goes over what this program is, why students should get involved with the program, and what students get out of the program. #boundlessscience #season2 

Keywords: Study abroad, UF, CALS LI, students

#BoundlessScienceseason2

Transcript

Hailey 0:04  

Hello everyone and welcome back to the boundless science series on the streaming Science Podcast. Streaming science is a student driven program that works to connect you with scientists to learn how science impacts all of us in our everyday lives. Hi, I'm Hailey Jones. I'm a second-year agricultural education and communication major at the University of Florida. I'm your host. You're currently listening to an episode, where I interviewed Dr. Natalie Coers, an instructional assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural Education, and Communication here at the University of Florida. In the interview, we talked about the UF IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Leadership Institute, Dr. Coers and I discussed the program as a whole and why students should get involved through this podcast. I hope you gain insight into the CALS Leadership Institute and all that it has to offer.

Hailey  0:59  

Hello, my name is Hailey Jones. And I just want to welcome Dr. Coers here for being involved with streaming science. So today, Dr. Coers, can you give us a brief, like introduction about yourself and your education? 

Dr. Coers 1:18  

Absolutely. Thank you so much for having me today. My background is focused around agricultural leadership development. I grew up in central Illinois, and made my way to Florida through that educational pathway. I started at Lincoln Land Community College and did a couple of years there and transferred over to the University of Illinois, majoring in agricultural education and communication with focus in leadership. And then I made my way to the University of Georgia for my master's degree, and then came to Florida for my professional start, and then eventually did my PhD here in the agricultural education communication department. 

Hailey 1:42

Can you tell me a bit about like the brief description of Kells Li and what is involved with students? 

Dr. Coers 1:58

Absolutely. So the College Leadership Institute is essentially a 17 month program or three semesters. With that it comes with three particular semester courses each for two credit hours for the students that are enrolled, the first being personal leadership development, the second group and organizational and then the third global leadership context, within that overall experience is also that international trip with the cohort for that immersive and shared experience to then be able to build off of within the classroom, as well as the networking connections that we try to make for each of the students to continue kind of building that potential for leadership and connections beyond that classroom environment.

Hailey 3:00  

What are your goals for students to learn and gain from these experiences?

Dr. Coers  3:05  

from a broad perspective, there is essentially the foundation of Cals LI is that professional prep. And so the competencies focused on really hone in on those that are going to be beneficial within their careers, and being prepared to kind of enter a workforce that is increasingly global.

  Dr. Coers  3:28  

The Association of Public and Land Grant Universities did a study, I believe it was in 2019, that looked at what are the skills that are needed for graduates, they focused on faculty and students as well as alumni and employers to really look at what is needed within that kind of current job market. And leadership skills consistently rise to the top kind of advanced skills that are needed by graduates to enter into that workforce, with some sub pieces of communication skills, listening skills, all of those are really embedded within the curriculum of the College Leadership Institute. So we hope that they walk away with a greater awareness of who they are as a potential or current leader in a variety of different contexts. They're able to communicate what they do well, and are able to make connections and build that professional network. Outside of the classrooms. They continue to be successful as human beings, and also have the capacities and competencies developed to lead others within their professional context. In both a group setting and a larger kind of organizational context.

 Hailey 4:48  

As a current agricultural education communication major, I've definitely seen the need for leadership development across the board in like agriculture and really in any form of organization. And so, I do agree that this program definitely will help strengthen those skills and build those relationships for students. So, how did you develop an interest in leadership in agriculture and like studying abroad.

 Dr. Coers 5:21  

So, I think there's two parts to my interest in agriculture and leadership and it stems from growing up in a rural community, I quite literally grew up on corn Street. And agriculture has always been a part of my everyday living through that rural community. 

 Dr. Coers 5:45  

My family would say, it's in our blood, my grandparents farmed. I continued that pursuit through agricultural education, I was really involved with 4-H and FFA in the post-secondary agricultural student organization over the course of my educational career. And that also really developed my interest in leadership development, through 4-H programs and FFA programs and PS opportunities for leadership roles and leadership development conferences and programs that really made the connection for me of that human development side of agricultural and life sciences, and really was where I kind of found my place in those organizations. And as kind of a continued pursuit for education. I originally wanted to be a high school agricultural teacher and did observation hours in the high school classroom and learned very quickly that that was not the place for me. But at that particular time, I was also in a leadership development class through an honors program at my college, and had that kind of lightbulb moment that if someone is taking a leadership class, like myself, then someone needs to be teaching a leadership class. So that kind of spurred on my continued engagement within leadership development, and also had some great connections with faculty members at University of Illinois that really encouraged my interest in a leadership as a discipline and as a research area, particularly continuing on within higher education for those additional degrees.

Dr. Coers 7:37  

In terms of study abroad, I say that would be more of just experience. International travel, I would say, was not something I ever imagined doing when I was younger. But I had a couple of family members that were avid travelers engaged in the military, and just really spurred on some of those stories and interests within travel, in addition to having  several family friends who served as missionaries overseas. And hearing their stories, kind of set that tone for at least a base level interest in international context. When the opportunity arose when I was in my sophomore year of college to pursue a particular study abroad program, it was very exciting to embark on that adventure. And the faculty member that took me on that first experience looks back, and it essentially says I knew you would be engaged for a lot longer simply because of the way in which I interacted through that particular first experience, which was basically glued to the window at every particular turn, and really interested in that overall experience, not just to be a tourist kind of looking at the different sites, but really wanting to engage within that local culture at a different level. And that really set that bar for continued engagement within international education. And I ultimately did another study abroad with that faculty member, and just continued that interest to build for traveling and really experiencing other cultures. 

Hailey 9:18

So what I'm hearing is you didn't want and now you haven't stopped? 

Dr. Coers 9:22

Absolutely. 

Hailey  9:36  

I just love traveling already. I feel like I'm just going to want to keep going and I'm like, I don't have a lot of time left here.

Dr. Coers  9:43  

There are certainly many opportunities postgraduation to continue those adventures abroad. And certainly, encouraged that the world is a tremendous place to explore and so many amazing places and people to connect with. 

Hailey 10:00  

Definitely I've been quite a few places already. And every time I learned about different cultures, it's just an amazing experience. And I've only gone with like family purposes and like personal reasons, not study abroad yet. I'm really interested about, like learning the differences and seeing the other opportunities that study abroad creates.

Dr. Coers  10:21  

Definitely the difference between family and kind of personal travel to some organized international experiences and study abroad programs are definitely several unique pieces to each. Obviously, when you're personally traveling, you kind of get the choice of what different activities you go to, and perhaps a little bit more towards the relaxation and enjoyment space for your time abroad. Whereas in the international education space, there's typically some unintentional effort in organizing the activities as well as other experiences and connections and content that will be covered and the places that you visit, all tying into that particular program. 

Hailey 10:40 

How do you think it benefits students to be in a study abroad program?

Dr. Coers 11:18  

I think there are so many incredible benefits for study abroad and international experiences. I think first and foremost is the general awareness of how beautiful people are all around the world, and getting out of your comfort zone to experience different cultures and have a deeper understanding of how particular places interact with others and what their particular traditions are. And just getting to experience those in an authentic way, is really the foundation of a meaningful experience abroad. 

Hailey 10:38 

It sounds so fascinating, and I'm just so excited to be able to experience that for myself. So I know you've been working at foot with CALS LI, which is the Leadership Institute for the past, like 15 years. Can you tell me a little bit about your experiences when you first started and like now?

Dr. Coers 12:16  

Absolutely. It sounds strange for that to be said out loud of 15 years of kind of being connected with the CALS Leadership Institute. But it is one of the favorite pieces of my job responsibilities. And it has been a true privilege to be able to watch and help that program evolve over those 15 years. When I came Cohort One was just finishing up, so I had the opportunity to connect very briefly with those first students. And then moving along with Cohort Two was my first full cohort experience from start to finish. The program itself started with the higher ed challenge grant prior to my arrival, and was really looking at developing global skills and competencies for undergraduate students to head into the professional and

Dr. Coers  13:15  

professional school context depending on what their particular career goals were or are. And that continued development is certainly enhanced through a cohort model that CALS Leadership Institute follows with the main goal of being some of that interdisciplinary conversation across the curriculum where students are moving through personal development, and to group and organizational development and on to global leadership development skills and competencies. What are some activities during the last lesson lessons that the students go through to be able to learn these developments.

Dr. Coers  13:58  

lots of different approaches over the course of their three semesters in the program. The personal leadership development, start to the program involves several different personality and other kinds of assessments to establish that kind of foundation of self-awareness and base for leadership, leadership theory and leadership, concept understanding and ultimately how people interact with each other. Much of that particular semester is all about the cohort also getting to know each other, and how they will continue to interact and help each other through that kind of peer development along their journey together within the College Leadership Institute. Within the group and organizational development semester, there's what we call a signature experience, which is organizing a particular event or project in conjunction with a

Dr. Coers 15:00  

nonprofit organization in the Gainsville community are a project that is taken on by the cohort as a whole. And they work together to discover what a need is for a particular organization and then work together with that organization to help meet that need, whatever that need is through that organization. And then in the final semester for global leadership development, it's ultimately the application of content to more of that global scale. And students are taking the leadership concepts that they're learning and applying them to the global context and how they can engage beyond their college leadership experience to really make a positive impact in the communities in which they will choose to engage after graduation.

Hailey 15:51  

What are a few examples of past cohort projects that have been completed?

Dr. Coers 15:58  

One that stands out is a spice drive that was organized for the UF field work pantry. That was a very unique project that cohort 13 spearheaded, and spices are one of the most requested items at a food pantry, but one of those least donated. And so that was a really interesting kind of outreach effort and connection to the pantry. As well as continuing on in that effort for encouraging future cohorts to also engage in that particular project. Others have engaged with the field for gardens for some projects.

Dr. Coers 16:49  

The bread for the mighty pantry has also been in communication. For some additional projects, Luby bat center, and several other local organizations that have been fantastic folks to work with for our students.

Hailey 17:01

 I don't think I would have thought about spices being something needed for food drive, like, like that doesn't come to mind, I would think fruits. How would you suggest students get more involved or interested or about like just learning about this program?

Dr. Coers 17:26  

I would say the best way to learn about the CALS Leadership Institute would be from either current or past members of that particular cohort, whether it's the current cohort, or alumni that are spread out around, really around the world, and just asking them about what the benefits are for their particular engagement, and kind of moving forward what they would recommend. Of course, I'm always happy to answer questions as well. But I often understand that hearing firsthand of what someone's experience is tends to be perhaps more helpful.

Hailey Jones 18:09  

I definitely would recommend that to as a current cohort 15 member, I reached out to pass members prior to the application process to learn a bit about their experience without the professional opinion, and just their general honest and opinions and thoughts about the program. And honestly, I didn't have a second thought about applying after it. And so far being in for just a couple of weeks, I've really enjoyed the class. So far, I've just really enjoyed the cohort and the other students in it. And I'm just really looking forward to moving forward in this program. I know about how the program meets meet students, pair students, with professionals to be able to mentor them. Can you tell me a bit about the process of how you make the pairing? And why?

Dr. Coers 19:10  

Sure.

Dr. Coers 19:12  

During the first semester, we've had a great connection with the Wentworth Leadership Institute. And that offers the opportunity for students to be able to connect with leaders within the agricultural and natural resources industry that are completing a similar but more advanced program of for professionals in that field. Being able to counsel students to receive some of that wisdom that those particular leaders have gained over their experiences as a leader and in developing into different leadership roles. For that kind of connection. Honestly, there's no particular

Dr. Coers 20:00  

Some rhyme or reason for that particular pairing in terms of a specific student to a specific Wedgeworth. Leadership Institute participant, it's more of a general openness and a gratitude for their willingness to connect with students. So, program specific strategy. Absolutely. We are incredibly grateful for those Wedgeworth Leadership Institute members who want to invest in the students and sharing their experiences. And it's just such a natural connection with similar Leadership Program experiences for the students and for the professionals.

Dr. Coers 20:41  

With the broader kind of networking connections that the students will receive in their second semester, we try to utilize our CALS Leadership Institute alumni network, the broader College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, alumni network and other friends of the college to provide a contact and a connection for the students within their particular career interests. And so that is a very intentional selection and process of matching students to those particular connections with hope that students will get some additional insight to their field of interest, learn more, and gain some of that wisdom from that pathway of how individual already in that position that they desire, would have gotten into that position. And then in the final semester, one of the newer things we've added is a connection to specifically our college leadership, alumni, so that students can really talk about kind of that next step, and engage in some conversation about that shared experience through the College Leadership Institute. And then kind of though, what's next? Like? How do I use these particular skills and competencies that we've developed and apply them in life after graduation? 

Hailey 20:02 

Would you recommend students from all of cows to be involved in this program, because I know we've talked a lot about agriculture and stuff in this podcast, but you highly recommend all students be involved. 

Dr. Coers 20:24

One of the neat things about the CALS Leadership Institute is that we really try to make it an interdisciplinary experience. And that means that students from different majors are in the same class as others that perhaps they want it typically kind of connect with. And I would certainly encourage any student within the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences to consider this opportunity. There are many great opportunities within our college to pursue leadership development, if you really would like to focus on leadership development process. I think the cohort model is a really cool space to do that in for that concentrated effort on personal and professional leadership development. And it is an open application every fall for students who apply to you, there is the application and interview process, we're ultimately selecting that cohort.

Hailey 23:12

How would you recommend students to get the most out of this program?

Dr. Coers 23:32  

We always say at the beginning of every new cohort that the program is what you make of it, while there is a guiding curriculum, and we do cover content within class. And it is also about that intentional effort and engagement in the class to both get as much out of the content that we cover as the interaction with other students and the experiences that each individual student can bring into that kind of peer learning environment. The courses themselves are very discussion based. And we provide content and then the class time is either a combination of lecture and content with discussion or purely discussion based.

Hailey 24:24  

So, it's definitely up to the student and their participation and commitment to the program. Correct.

Hailey  24:33  

Well, I just want to thank you so much. Is there before we leave? Is there anything else you would like to add before we go? 

Dr. Coers 24:38

I think we covered a good bit. Thanks so much for having me. 

Hailey 24:52

Thank you for being here today.

Hailey 24:49  

Thank you for listening to the boundless science series on the streaming Science Podcast. Make sure to check out our website for more. I'm your host, Hailey Jones. Thanks for listening in a big thanks to Dr. Coers for joining us for more information visit the links in the show notes