The Sweet Brew of Servant Leadership

Exposure to the concept of servant leadership during his doctoral studies changed everything for Rogers State University President, Dr. Larry Rice. "The more I learned about the concept the more I identified with it," Rice stated in his Lunch and Learn address to the Claremore Collective Next Generation Leadership Crew. "It places emphasis on the ethical role model of a leader."

Rice spoke to the responsibility young leaders have in leveraging their collective experience noting "all your life experiences inform your leadership abilities." His advice to the those in attendance was summed up in few brief concepts.

"First you need a mentor and you need to be a mentor. An effective leader is  a good listener and a sponge who surrounds themselves with bright people who provide, when necessary, tough, honest feedback," he noted. 

An Oklahoma native, President Rice has 30 years of experience in higher education. He began his academic career in 1979 as a full-time faculty member at RSU, which was then known as Rogers State College.He was Director of the Applied Science Division from 1979 to 1986 and Associate Director of Academics for the Pryor campus from 1986 to 1991.

He joined the University of Tulsa in 1991 as a member of the advancement staff and served as interim vice president for advancement from 1997-1998 and director of public affairs from 1991 to 2004.  Before he was named as president of RSU in 2008, he served as Executive Assistant to the President at the University of Tulsa.  He served the citizens of Oklahoma as a state representative in House District 8 from 1986 to 2004.

Claremore Collective is a group of young professionals assembled as one voice to move the city forward. The association is organized into five key areas-- Arts and Entertainment, Attraction, Development, Government Relations, and Next Gen Leadership. 

Each crew holds monthly meetings, organizes initiatives, hosts events, and promotes volunteer opportunities related to their area of focus. 

The Next Gen Leadership crew seeks to develop strategies to promote leadership
opportunities and education for young professionals.

They meet the first Wednesday of the month during the noon hour over lunch at the North Block Common in downtown Claremore.  Full details can be found at ClaremoreCollective.com.