Students wore sweatshirts and jackets as they walked through the fields of Gettysburg earlier this month, the cool April weather a far cry from the heat and humidity that enveloped the men who met here in July of 1863. The Battle of Gettysburg is considered by many to be the turning point of the American Civil War, as the Union Army halted General Robert E. Lee’s invasion into the North and forced his army’s retreat.
The School of Public and International Affairs’ annual Gettysburg Leadership Program is much more than just a history lesson, as the battlefields serve as the backdrop for deep discussions focused on decision-making and ethical organizational leadership. Organized by Associate Professor and Director of the Master of Public Policy and Management (MPPM) program George Dougherty, the trip is open to all SPIA graduate students and has been a staple of the spring semester since it began in 2016.
“While we do discuss military strategy and who was where on the battlefield, that is largely the setting rather than the primary point,” Dougherty explained. “The program speaks to organizational change, leadership styles, subordinate leadership, the art of giving direction, adjusting to new technologies, and the consequences of doing all of the above well or poorly.”
Pitt’s trip is one of many held throughout the year by Higher Ground Leadership at Gettysburg, an immersive professional development program developed by the Gettysburg Foundation for university students, business executives, and leaders of all types. The Foundation’s licensed Battlefield Guides lead on-field discussions and offer tours of significant locations including the 11th Corps field hospital at Spangler Farm and Cemetery Ridge in Soldiers National Cemetery—the site of President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. With an eye on responsible citizenship, the fully customizable experience is designed to empower leaders on a personal and professional level.
Master of Public Administration (MPA) student Branden Dutchess attended the trip for the second time this year, and said the lessons taught throughout the program will be instrumental in his life and career after graduation.
“I think that this trip is one of the most valuable events you can engage with if you are interested in the nuts and bolts of how leading feels and how it works," Dutchess shared. "We learned about the value of perspective, the importance of recognizing and rewarding hard work, and the good that can be done when you have a team that you can trust and that trusts you. I would recommend it to anyone who can get a spot in future iterations.”