The first adventure was “The Oxford Conclave on Global Ethics: The Changing University Presidency” held at Balliol College, Oxford University, England in September 2005. Chaired by Dr. Betty Siegel, President Emeritus and Distinguished Chair of Leadership, Ethics and Character, Kennesaw State University, Georgia, six presidents of American state universities, with teams of vice presidents and deans from their own campuses gathered to discuss the responsibilities of higher education in addressing the global, ethical challenges of the 21st century.
This first Conclave was so profound in its impact that once again, in September, 2006, there was a second conclave – “The Oxford Conclave on Global Ethics: the Collaborative University.” This time, in addition to vice presidents and deans, each president brought a faculty member and several students.
This second Conclave convened in an effort to promote strong leadership and global ethics, and built upon the success of the first Conclave. Once again, with Dr. Siegel as chairman, the Oxford Conclave delivered powerful results and a powerful commitment to continue this great collaboration.
On April 23-25, 2008, a third Conclave – the Seboka, this one not at Oxford, but held at Stellenbosch University, near Capetown, South Africa.
“The Stellenbosch Seboka on Higher Education and Ethical Leadership: Preparing the Intellectual Leaders of Tomorrow,” brought together 50 great educators to the campus of Stellenbosch University, an old and beautiful campus, with 35,000 students.
The 50 distinguished university vice chancellors and rectors were from seven African countries and eleven African universities.
Dr. Betty Siegel, now President of the Siegel Institute for Leadership, Ethics and Character, Kennesaw State University, chaired the Seboka, as she did both Oxford Conclaves. Joining her was John Knapp of Georgia State University and Brian Wooten of Kennesaw and her distinguished husband Dr. Joel Siegel.
The Leader to Leader Institute team included Geneva Johnson, former CEO of Family Service America; LCR Carla Grantham, U.S. Coast Guard (Ret.), now consulting with the U.S. Department of Energy and teaching communication at the American University in Washington, DC.
Geneva Johnson and I were invited to give keynote speeches. I was to speak on the first day, following the opening address by Archbishop Tutu, for me the inspiring highlight of the week.
Then we learned that Archbishop Desmond Tutu would not arrive in time to open the Seboka, but would speak on the morning of the second day. I then became the speaker to give the opening address, with the image of Archbishop Tutu before me. When he did speak the second morning, no one could have been more inspiring, more moving. Following is one message we took home.
“Higher Education must engage in the exhilarating business of giving moral and ethical leadership training”. – Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, 24 April 2008, Stellenbosch Seboka on Higher Education and Ethical Leadership
After our deliberations, there was a stirring concert by the Libertas Choir and a lecture by a former Justice of the Supreme Court of South Africa, Dr. Arthur Chaskalson, who defended Nelson Mandela.
The trust that began from the first moment with Professor Russel Botman, and the conference director, Dr. H. Ludolph Botha and Dr. Betty Siegel, made this a leadership experience that indeed changed hearts, changed minds and will change the lives of students and faculty as these exemplary academic leaders go back to their campuses, all over Africa, and the United States.
Our Leader to Leader Institute team from the U.S.A., left with a powerful commitment to join the Conclave/Seboka – whatever the name – in 2009 that will include our colleagues from the two earlier Oxford Conclaves on Global Ethics, held at Balliol College, Oxford, England and from our 2008 Stellenbosch Seboka in South Africa. The 2009 Conclave will be held in Atlanta, Georgia. It too will change hearts, change minds, change lives.
The most powerful way we can communicate the significance, the power, the commitment to ethical leadership, diversity and inclusion, is to share a document created at the Stellenbosch Seboka on Higher Education and Ethical Leadership. This document, “A Call to Action,” was developed with great energy and belief in a bright future for all of our people – the students, the faculty of our African and American learning institutions, and the future of our great countries.
Here is a PDF version of the document that emerged from common purpose, common language, common ground, of 50 men and women with a shared belief in the education of all of our children, and a commitment to our alliance, and the Stellenbosch Seboka partnership.
declaration.pdf (45.47 kb)
For further information on the Stellenbosch Seboka event, and to download audio clips of the keynote speeches, please visit the Stellenbosch Seboka website.