Five doctoral students from Missouri University of Science and Technology will participate in a University of Missouri System development program designed to help them become future industry or academic leaders.

The five were selected to take part in the one-year Graduate Leadership Development Program (GLDP) that stresses transferrable skills. These skills help graduate students to pursue nimble, creative careers of leadership and innovation at a time of rapidly shifting job opportunities in a complex global economy.

The program is modeled after one at Michigan State University, a leader in the field of transferable skills. These skills add on to specialized research to enhance success in careers inside and outside academia. The UM System program emphasizes management and organization; problem-solving; communication skills; and creativity and entrepreneurship.

Each UM System campus selected a team of five students to enroll in the program. These 20 students will participate in four 1.5-day sessions at each of the four campuses spread throughout the year on leadership topics of interest to the student group. The group first met in February at the University of Missouri-Columbia. The teams meet March 12-13 at University of Missouri-Kansas City, in September at University of Missouri-St. Louis and in November at Missouri S&T. Once a month, campus groups will meet to discuss common concerns, share ideas and give advice.

The program was a collaborative effort of four graduate deans and vice provosts of graduate education across the four campuses. Dr. Greg Holliday, director of leadership development at the UM System, facilitates the events.

Missouri S&T doctoral students participating are:

•    James Keehn of Rolla, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in physics
•    Doug McGeehan of Rolla, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in computer science
•    Sudharshan Anandan of Banglore, India, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering
•    Iranga Mendis of Ja-Ela, Sri Lanka, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in mathematics
•    Zahra Sadeghizadeh of Rolla, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering