The Elliott School of International Affairs held its inaugural retreat for incoming undergraduate students, where they discussed issues of ethical importance as part of a new requirement to take a one-credit “First Year Experience” course focused on leadership, ethics and practice (LEAP), as well as professional development.
The new LEAP initiative seeks to prepare Elliott School students for challenges related to leadership and the complex legal and moral dilemmas they could encounter during their careers.
LEAP Director Chris Kojm said the initiative distinguishes the school as an institution that prioritizes ethics as a critical component of leadership and the study of international affairs.
“Under Dean [Reuben] Brigety’s leadership, the school recognizes the need to address issues ranging from ethical relativism to ethical imperialism,” Mr. Kojm said in a statement. "A key purpose of the freshman retreat is to focus students to think about ethics as part of their study of international affairs from the moment they arrive at the Elliott School.”
Before the retreat, students were asked to read the book, “Mango Elephants in the Sun,” written by former Peace Corps volunteer Susan Herrera, after she returned to the United States. At the retreat, Ms. Herrera discussed with students the ethical and cross-cultural challenges she faced during her Peace Corps service.
More than 600 students participated in the retreat, which also included a scavenger hunt, pizza party and message from the dean.
Take a look at some of the incoming students at the Elliott School during the inaugural retreat:
