Eric Loepp, '08
Professional role at the Center for Leadership Education grew from student-mentor relationship
November 4, 2009
“Leadership is everywhere” is the belief that the University of Richmond’s Jepson School of Leadership instills in its graduates like Eric Loepp, '08. It is also the foundation of The Center of Leadership in Education, a joint project of the Jepson School and the School of Continuing Studies.
The Center, which develops programs for k-12 students, teachers and school administrators, is directed by Loepp’s mentor Thomas J. Shields. Loepp first met Shields in 2005, when he took Shields' course on leadership in political contexts. Shields teaches as an adjunct in the Jepson School and is employed by the School of Continuing Studies.
The two hit it off and Loepp worked with Shields on various projects and research, including an internship in 2007. Before Loepp’s 2008 graduation, Shields invited Loepp to apply for a new position with the Center for Leadership in Education. Loepp jumped at the chance to work on this growing project. He is now the program coordinator, responsible for overseeing the student programs as well as programs in leadership studies for teachers and administrators in public and independents schools.
Loepp explains how Shields offered him a wonderful opportunity to, “try out the fusion of two things that are of interest to me. Leadership study is one, but also the field of education was something that interested me.” Loepp points to the shortcomings he faced in the last couple years of his own high school experience as one of the major reasons for his current interest in improving the educational system. “My school district had some major problems during my last two years there. They literally ran out of money and ended up cutting Advanced Placement programs, reducing class options, and ultimately shutting down the schools for the summer more than a month early because they could not afford to keep the lights on and the teachers paid.” However dire the circumstances at his high school became Loepp points out that he recognized the fact that, “my ‘bad’ was nothing like the ‘bad’ so many other students endure.”
Loepp believes that today’s secondary educational system is falling short of its responsibilities to create responsible citizens. Schools don't provide "instruction or training, or real academic inquiry of leadership at that level.” He went on to explain that some institutions may work aspects of leadership into their curriculums, but these subjects are not typically recognized as leadership studies. This is a problem because it makes it hard for students to identify and develop leadership within their personal lives and within their communities.
In high school, Loepp says, there are leadership positions available everywhere. Students may hold leadership positions in student government, athletics, and various clubs and organizations. The problem for the students, as Loepp points out is that, “so many of them are just sort of dropped into the position or one way or another they get elected, but as far as leadership goes it can often fall short. …There is not any real direction provided by the school in terms of how to effectively run an organization.” The Center for Leadership in Education fills that gap. The Center goes beyond just the teaching of leadership theory to help administrators, teachers and students apply leadership techniques.
He develops strategies and programs to help improve education. Loepp’s degrees in Leadership Studies and Political Science, along with his interest in education and his own personal experience, have made him a perfect fit for the position he now holds with the center. He works with Shields both inside and outside of the classrooms to develop, promote, and execute the various youth programs offered by the center.
Loepp admires Shields’ ability to multitask and adapt to numerous situations in which he must deal with a wide range of people. He explains how his mentor is able to, “get along with everybody, and work with all sorts of people in different environments.” He tries to emulate the characteristic ease with which Shields is able to connect and interact with all types of people in a variety of situations, a quality that helps him be especially effective as the director of the Center for Leadership in Education, a program that works with people from all different ages, demographics and backgrounds.
Loepp continues to learn from Shields in both formal and informal settings. When he attends events for the center, he tries to absorb as much information as he can. Loepp mentioned a conference he attended earlier this year during which Shields led a discussion panel. Loepp says that he is, “familiar with some of the material that we incorporate regularly into event curriculum but I always find that I am learning something new every time.” It appears that in order to improve education one must never stop learning, which is why the relationship between Loepp and Shields is so beneficial for both parties. The two are good friends as well as colleagues and they learn from each other in much more informal contexts as well.
Background about the Center for Leadership in Education
Article ID: 489
