Dean's Seminar to Explore Leadership Lessons from 'Lincoln to Lasso'

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Dean's Seminar instructors Ro Di Brezzo (left) and Valorie Kondos Field (right).

Two instructors with a combined 50 years of experience in coaching and leadership are teaming up to teach a new Dean's Seminar in the College of Education and Health Professions called Leadership in Coaching: Lessons from Lincoln to Lasso.

Valorie Kondos Field and Ro Di Brezzo will use their wealth of expertise to inspire students to develop authentic, intentional and thoughtful leadership styles. The course will introduce students to philosophies and leadership methods through the writings of highly accomplished leaders and college sports coaches.

Students can register now for the course, which will be offered on Wednesdays from 4-6 p.m. throughout the second eight weeks of the fall 2024 semester.

Kondos Field will share lessons from her experience as the head coach of the seven-time NCAA champion UCLA Bruins gymnastics program. She was named National Coach of the Year four times and was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010.

"I am honored and excited to be teaching alongside Dr. Di Brezzo this fall at the University of Arkansas," Kondos Field said. "As the head coach of UCLA gymnastics for 29 years, I was a consistent student of effective and ineffective leadership. Most of what I learned was through trial and error and observing other great leaders, particularly the great UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, who became my mentor."

Di Brezzo is a University Professor emeritus and served as a faculty member in the College of Education and Health Professions' Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation for 37 years. She co-founded the Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center, Office for Studies on Aging, served as chair of the Faculty Senate, and president of the Teaching Academy.

"Developing and embracing a leadership style is less about leading others and more about understanding and celebrating your own uniqueness," Di Brezzo said. "I have spent a career surrounding myself with others who are stronger, brighter and more creative than me, and I have done it again teaching this class with the great UCLA coach Val Kondos Field!"

The Dean's Seminar was created as part of the College of Education and Health Professions' WE CARE strategic plan. Each semester, the seminar focuses on a different complex societal challenge at the intersection of education and health.

"I'm excited to share as much as I can with our Razorback students," Kondos Field said. "To embrace this generation's battle cry…let's go!"