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ENHANCING LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE FEATURE

DEVELOPMENT THROUGH

PARTNERSHIPS AND AGREEMENTS

2015 PAUL A. ELSNER
INTERNATIONAL EXCELLENCE
IN LEADERSHIP
DR. DEBBIE NELLIS
LIFETIME WORK
OF LEADERSHIP

AWARD RECIPIENT

In Leadership (2014), Richard Strand stated, “Limiting leadership career advancement. Debbie served as the lead faculty for the
development to a select few is an elitist strategy that is fraught development and implementation of the Community College
with risk. Te new paradigm recognizes that leadership is a Leadership programs. Debbie was responsible for training the
collective process spread among multiple networks of people new faculty for the online program delivered via the Blackboard
throughout an entire organization” (p.22). Troughout her format. Led by Debbie, NSU’s Fischler School of Education
academic career, 2015 Paul A. Elsner International Excellence completed a partnership with the Chair Academy in 2005 that
in Leadership award winner, Dr. Debbie Nellis, has established included a tuition grant for members and staf entering the
connections, formed partnerships, and developed agreements FSE doctoral program and transfer of graduate credit to those
that enhance the formation of networks that foster and promote who completed the Chair Academy Foundation Training or the
leadership opportunities for individuals. Advanced Training. In 2012, Debbie successfully established a
Dr. Debbie Nellis served as a professor and Director of Post- partnership with the Chair Academy that led to two Florida and
Secondary Articulations and Program Development until she international Chair Academy Foundation Training programs
retired in June, 2014 afer twenty-one years of service at Nova between 2012 and 2014, incorporating multiple NSU campuses
Southeastern University (NSU). Debbie is currently adjunct and the Association of Florida Colleges conference in Orlando.
faculty for the Abraham S. Fischler School of Education Joint marketing was completed between the Fischler School of
(FSE), teaching in the leadership programs. Debbie developed Education, the Association of Florida Colleges, and the Chair
partnerships for FSE with higher education institutions such as Academy.
the Chair Academy, League for Innovation, and the Association What follows are excerpts from emails and conversations
of Florida Colleges. Debbie developed articulation agreements between Dr. Cathy Songer, a contributing member of the
for Nova’s FSE programs with community and state colleges in Leadership editorial board, and Dr. Debbie Nellis.
Florida and throughout the United States. She also developed As a leader, what core values do you think are/were
training for NSU, community, and state college counselors important to your successful career?
regarding partnerships and articulation agreements. Debbie
served on the President’s Academic Review Committee for Integrity, honesty, trust, collaboration, confdentiality, and
Curriculum and Program Development. open communication.
As a result of working with higher education leaders, presidents, You have accomplished much in your career.
and chancellors, a need was demonstrated for leadership degrees What has been your source of motivation?
that would help future community college leaders obtain If I am honest, being told “No” was a great motivator. Going

LEADERSHIP Vol. 21.1 Spring/Summer 2015 21

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