The Buccino Leadership Institute, a “first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary program designed to develop undergraduates from a wide array of academic majors to become the next generation of leaders,” officially launched this fall, according to an email from the Office of the Provost.
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The Institute has chosen “83 high-caliber students from around the globe … for the inaugural class,” said the Office of the Provost. These students come from an array of backgrounds and majors, with one thing in common: their desire to become world-class leaders in their fields.
“[L]eadership competencies are needed even as one starts one’s career. As a result, expanding this program so that all our students who are seeking further development of their competencies in leadership became a natural expansion,” Karen Boroff, professor and Dean Emeritus said via email.
“Prior to the establishment of the Buccino Leadership Institute, there were no other university-wide leadership development programs,” Bryan Price, Executive Director of the Buccino Leadership Institute, said via email. “In Stillman, there was the Buccino Center for Leadership Development, but that was only offered to select Business undergrads.”
The Buccino Leadership Institute, on the other hand, is open to all majors.
“Very simply, [our goal] is to develop extraordinary leaders,” said Michael Reuter, Director of the Gerald P. Buccino ’63 Center for Leadership Development.
The plans for the Buccino Leadership Institute have been in the works for several years, according to Dr. Boroff. “Like anything else, however, things take time to build,” she said.
Christopher Lucas, a freshman Finance and Marketing major, said in a phone interview that the Buccino Leadership Institute was one of the main reasons he came to Seton Hall University.
“It [the Institute] brings together leaders from different schools,” Lucas said. When asked whether the Buccino Leadership Institute is successful in achieving its goal of creating student leaders, Lucas said “definitely yes.”
The Buccino Leadership Institute teaches students leadership by using a combination of theory and practice. Lucas said that he has participated in both networking opportunities and classes that teach leadership qualities through the Institute.
Reuter agrees that the Institute will teach practical leadership knowledge. “The program that we will be implementing will not only teach the theory, but the cornerstone will be the experience that the students receive,” Reuter said.
The long term goal of the Institute, said Bryan Price in a phone interview, is to “provide Seton Hall students with the most effective leadership program in the country.” Students can apply to be selected for the program, but it is a competitive process.
“High school students can self-nominate to the program, housed in each of the colleges. Students first have to apply for and be accepted into their respective college,” Dr. Boroff said. “Each college will then makes its decision on admission into the respective college program.”
“[The Buccino Leadership Institute] is truly an exceptional program for students,” Reuter said of the Institute. “It’s in its infancy right now but the potential for it is great … we have a motto: Seton Hall – where leaders learn.”
Marie Leone can be reached at marie.leone@student.shu.edu.
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