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Marv Van Kekerix shares his thoughts on leadership (and says farewell)

Before he departed to begin his new position as UW-Madison interim vice provost for lifelong learning and dean of the Division of Continuing Studies on Feb. 1, Marv Van Kekerix talked about leadership with Sue Buck, program coordinator for the UW Colleges and UW-Extension Leadership Academy and recently retired director of Cooperative Extension's Central District.

Van Kekerix has a thick leadership portfolio. In addition to his most recent position as UW Colleges and UW-Extension vice chancellor and UW-Extension provost, he has acted as interim chancellor for both UW Colleges and UW-Extension and interim chancellor for UW-Extension. Van Kekerix previously was assistant vice chancellor of extension at UW-Stevens Point and held leadership positions at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Q: When you think of leadership, what comes to mind?

A: Leadership means working with other people to shape a common vision about what we are trying to accomplish together. A leader creates a collaborative environment to develop that vision and provides guidance to colleagues when needed. A leader also interprets events, giving meaning to those events for the organization and the people in the organization.

Q: What are the key leadership traits that are currently needed in outreach education? Have these traits evolved over your years in this profession?

A: The key leadership trait that is needed today is having a sense for what is needed in a general environment and translating that need into a vision that you develop with others.

As an individual takes on more responsibilities, that individual needs to be sensitive to the environment as a whole. The individual must continually elevate his or her view to determine what is needed in the organization and what the organization needs to do in a broader environment.

These traits are foundations to effectively leading an outreach-education organization. They have not changed over the years, but the environment in which we work has. Leaders need to seek the broader context of the work they and the organization do. It is important to continually assess the environment and understand what the changes are in order to stay relevant within that changing environment.

Q: What are the leadership skills you will be taking to your new position at UW-Madison?

A: I hope to be able to contribute to the growth and development of continuing education and UW-Madison. I believe I have a good understanding of the University of Wisconsin System and the relationships key to the operation of the institutional and system-wide environment. I plan to bring that understanding of the overall context and the UW-Madison environment so that the Division of Continuing Studies and the individuals who work there are able to appreciate and understand the broader as well as the institutional view of outreach education.

Q: Any final comments?

A: It has been a pleasure to work with all the talented people at UW-Extension and UW Colleges. I have learned a great deal from everyone I have worked with in both institutions. I have also gained a sincere appreciation for the enormous positive impact we continue to have on the people of Wisconsin. It has been a wonderful journey. Thank you all!

By Sue Buck, program coordinator, The Leadership Academy, UW Colleges and UW-Extension

The Leadership Academy: A learning and growing experience

Watch your e-mail later this spring to learn how to apply to The Leadership Academy class of 2009-11. All UW Colleges and UW-Extension faculty, academic and classified staff members as well as those with extension appointments at other UW institutions and in Wisconsin counties are eligible to apply. Approximately 30 individuals will be selected to participate in the two-year program.

For more information:
www.uwex.edu/leadershipacademy
Sue Buck
Program Coordinator
The Leadership Academy
(715) 342-5314
sue.buck@ces.uwex.edu