How Much Fun Did You Have?

One alum sums up what she took away from the refresher

By Eileen Parise MPA 1999

While I realize that the 2001 refresher course in May concentrated on “cutting-edge leadership,” many of us who attended found it to be down right fun.

Whether you were there to refresh your skills and capabilities “to create a better world through better leadership,” as the program promised, or to visit with former classmates, faculty, and administrators, the weekend offered much knowledge and insight. It also exceeded my expectations.

The record-breaking number of people attending this year’s refresher course is a tribute to Alumni Office Director Betsy Myers MPA 2000, Kelly Courtney, and the staff in the Alumni Programs Office, and to David Gergen, Ronald Heifitz MPA 1983, Barbara Kellerman, and Scott Webster of the Center for Public Leadership. As a member of the class of 1999, I’m pleased to say that of the 230 attendees, 26 were from my class and 23 from the class of 1991, which was celebrating its 10-year class reunion (can’t wait until mine!). In the spirit of the KSG quest for leadership and knowledge, it was nice to see 33 classes and 30 countries represented.

I found myself shuffling across the courtyard between the Taubman and Littauer buildings; along familiar hallways, carrying my notebook and pen, attending intellectually stimulating lectures, and engaging in conversations with fellow graduates and professionals. It was as if I was back in class at Wiener Auditorium, only this time, there was no assignment due. The only requirement was to arrive with an open mind to absorb the wisdom from the many speakers and attendees
I encountered.

The pressure was off. Gone were the deadlines for final papers and presentations — now it was a time for sophisticated and thoughtful conversation, and reuniting with our KSG family. For me it was more than just a refresher course. It was an exchange of experiences with fellow graduates from the Kennedy School to discuss how we have applied what we learned in our studies and to compare notes with other professionals who are passionate about public service.

Whether I was listening to Kim Campbell and Esko Aho discuss “The Culture of Power” or attending a workshop titled “Shakespeare on Leadership” by Ken and Carol Adelman, I found myself immersed in lessons taught by profound lecturers and reminded of the talent we are exposed to as graduates of the Kennedy School. It’s comforting to return to a place that encourages creative thinking and inspires individual growth.

I commend Dean Nye for changing the direction of the Alumni Programs Office to one that embraces connectivity with fellow classmates and members of the KSG community. I for one am interested in staying in touch with my classmates through reunions and other methods, but am equally interested in meeting other KSG graduates and maintaining contact with faculty and the administration, which the refresher course provided. Additionally, I appreciated the opportunity to hear visiting lecturers speak, attend workshops conducted by
faculty, and meet visiting fellows from
various programs.

Being with fellow classmates and graduates reminded me of how special my experience at the Kennedy School was and why the relationships built from that experience are such a significant part of my life today. So how much fun did I have? On a scale of 1 to 10, it was off the charts and well worth my time!

Eileen Parise MPA 1999 is a defense fellow in the office of the secretary of public affairs at the Department of Defense.