8:37 a.m., March 31, 2009----Leadership Excellence magazine has featured the University of Delaware Women's Leadership Development Program (WLDP) in a specially published UD edition.

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WLDP is a program of the Institute for Public Administration (IPA) within the College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy.

WLDP director Myrna Bair, assistant professor and policy adviser with IPA, says the 24-page special edition came about following a note from the editor.

“The editor e-mailed me and said he had seen our Web site,” she said. “He went on to say he thought we should be featured [in Leadership Excellence].”

Bair was asked to apply for the magazine's annual award for leadership programs and submit an article for a future issue. The winner of the award receives the opportunity to publish a special issue of the magazine that can be used to promote the program.

“Several months later, we were offered the opportunity to produce our own electronic version -- with our own cover photo, two original articles, a full-page program ad that will also appear in a regular edition of the magazine, and our choice of 18 articles from past issues,” Bair said.

The cover features Bair, her two graduate students and program supporters who represent the state of Delaware, New Castle County and the city of Wilmington. Bair and Audrey Helfman, associate professor and WLDP instructor, each wrote articles and together selected the other 18. Bair notes, “It was a difficult task, given the high caliber of the writers.”

Bair views this special-edition magazine not only as an excellent source of advanced material for WLDP “graduates” but a resource for advertising the UD program. It can be downloaded from WLDP's resources page.

“I receive this magazine myself as part of my membership in the International Leadership Association,” Bair said. “It contains very interesting articles by top people in the field. In fact, we quote many of the authors in our own program materials.”

With regard to the exposure the magazine might generate, Bair went on to say, “Hopefully, this will lead to more training opportunities for more individuals from more organizations. We have been and continue to be committed to the public sector. After all, that's IPA's mission.”

Bair, who holds a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, came to IPA when she retired from political office in 2000, after 20 years as a Delaware state senator, including 14 as minority leader.

“I came to the University of Delaware because I had a great appreciation for what state employees do and wanted to add a strong leadership component to what was being offered,” she said. “It is leaders who will help us face the future with confidence.”

WLDP began in 1990 and today comprises three phases -- a one-day training, a two-day training retreat (both led by Bair), and a ten-day advanced course (led by Helfman). The program primarily serves state and local government and nonprofit personnel, with an average annual program attendance of about 120 individuals.

Article by Mark Deshon