Program and curriculum

LEAD VIRGINIA participants explore and grapple with major issues, challenges and opportunities facing our commonwealth. The program features a vibrant curriculum with lively presentations, engaging case studies and analyses, in-depth dialogues and debates on timely issues, on-site field studies, and experiential activities.

Sessions are developed by regional curriculum committees under the guidance of John P. Thomas, D.P.A., director of the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia and Program/Curriculum Committee chair for LEAD VIRGINIA’s board of directors. Regional Program/Curriculum co-chairs work with committees representing academic, business, civic and diverse interests from each region. Each session targets specific topics from a range of key issues.

Curriculum themes and perspectives

An overarching curriculum theme is “the Old Dominion to new Virginia,” with fresh insights on the changing face of Virginia. Effective leadership requires knowledge and perspective — knowledge incubates fresh ideas and new solutions, while perspective informs problem solving and decision-making.

Leaders must have a broad perspective. They must understand how events in the past have shaped the commonwealth and recognize how emerging trends and realities will shape future challenges and opportunities.

Specific curriculum themes for the Class of 2009 are local and regional economies, health care and education. These themes are examined from six primary perspectives: technology, economic development, transportation, demographics, growth management and quality of life