Our Mission

The mission of the Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Leadership (CISL) is twofold:

  1. Promote character-driven leadership development throughout FDU’s curricula
  2. Embed leadership development in a wide range of co-curricular activities
  3. Promote the professional and leadership development of FDU faculty and staff
  4. Engage the wider FDU community (our broad range of alumni, stakeholders, partners, and neighbors) with events and programs promoting character-driven leadership

CISL serves as a cross-divisional connecting hub. We work collaboratively with existing FDU offices and academic units on all three of FDU’s North American campuses to enhance the great programming that already exists and co-develop new, exciting programs. As such, a fifth goal of the Center is to break down internal and external barriers to effective collaboration.

"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."
— African Proverb

Current Activities/Accomplishments

By the end of the Spring 2026 semester, CISL will have accomplished the following:

  • Organized and ran the first annual TEDxFDU live on all three North American campuses on Thursday, April 23. The event features speakers on each campus and will be livestreamed to the other campuses in real time. TEDxFDU will showcase and share the amazing thought leadership being done by FDU with the entire University community.
  • Developed a 12-credit interdisciplinary undergraduate certificate in Leadership 
  • Developed and delivered leadership-related workshops and presentations to multiple FDU audiences, including academic programs, student groups, and initiatives spearheaded by Student Life
  • Codified its internal faculty and staff advisory board
  • Begun planning Fall 2026 activities, potentially including: Student Leadership Development Day, Faculty/Staff Leadership Development Day, Leader in Residence Program, and developing a slate of leadership-related workshops for student groups and academic programs.

Continue Exploring the Leadership Center

Our Team

Center Director

Scott Behson, Ph.D., Professor of Management and Silberman Global Faculty Fellow

Advisory Board

Staff:

  • Anita Rivers, Chief Community Relations and Workforce Development Officer
  • Craig Mourton, AVP Student Affairs
  • June Cho, Associate Director of Career Services, Vancouver
  • Luz Flores, Associate Director for Recruitment and Community, Hispanic Center
  • Laura Reynolds, Executive Director of Special Events and Alumni Engagement
  • Mary Sakin, SCB Assistant Dean, Corporate Engagement & Student Success
  • Rashard Mills, Director of Student Union & Campus Engagement, Student Life
  • Rosa Hanco, Director of 1st Year Experience & Student Leadership Programs

Faculty:

  • Ashley Robinson, Becton, Education (director of Ed.D. program in leadership)
  • Bruce Peabody, Becton, History & Social Science
  • Ian Mercer, Silberman, Management
  • Michael DeStefano, Olsen, Biology
  • Otito Iwuchukwu, Health, Pharmacy
  • Robert McGrath, Health, Psychology & Director of the Center for Character Development
  • Stacie Lents, Becton, Arts/Communication
  • William Toms, Silberman, SPGA

Ex-Officio:

  • James Almeida, Dean, Silberman College of Business
  • Patty Durso, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
  • Agie Markiewicz-Hocking, Assistant Provost, Academic Affairs
  • Scott Parsons, Executive Director, Institute for Character and Leadership

 

Logo for the the Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Leadership

Contact Information
Scott Behson, PhD, Director
behson@fdu.edu
The Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Leadership
Silberman College of Business
Fairleigh Dickinson University
1000 River Rd. (H-DH2-06),
Teaneck, NJ 07666