2006.10.09: October 9, 2006: Headlines: COS - Malawi: University Administration: Hartford Courant: Malawi RPCV Leo Higdon writes: When parents ask me about the value of a liberal arts degree vs. a more technical program, I tell them a good liberal arts education is the best preparation for any career
Peace Corps Online:
Directory:
Malawi:
Peace Corps Malawi :
The Peace Corps in Malawi:
2006.10.09: October 9, 2006: Headlines: COS - Malawi: University Administration: Hartford Courant: Malawi RPCV Leo Higdon writes: When parents ask me about the value of a liberal arts degree vs. a more technical program, I tell them a good liberal arts education is the best preparation for any career
Malawi RPCV Leo Higdon writes: When parents ask me about the value of a liberal arts degree vs. a more technical program, I tell them a good liberal arts education is the best preparation for any career
"Parents expect a college education to prepare their child for a career and for life, and they recognize this education as a serious investment of money, energy and time. For these reasons, and because the job market is continually changing, I recommend a degree in the liberal arts and sciences. A degree in history, biology, English, sociology or any of a broad range of programs teaches students how to learn. The process, more than the subject, provides the intellectual faculties that easily transfer to new careers and new life challenges."
Malawi RPCV Leo Higdon writes: When parents ask me about the value of a liberal arts degree vs. a more technical program, I tell them a good liberal arts education is the best preparation for any career
Liberal Arts: A Ticket To Anywhere
October 9, 2006
LEO I. HIGDON JR.
When parents ask me about the value of a liberal arts degree vs. a more technical program, I tell them a good liberal arts education is the best preparation for any career - in any job market. And when students ask, "What can I do with a degree in history?" I tell them it took me from the Peace Corps to Wall Street to leadership roles in academia.
At this time of year, when high school seniors and their parents are making their top choices for colleges and universities, I urge them to include a close look at a liberal arts education. Top-notch liberal arts colleges can be found in just about every part of the country, and some of the best ones are right here in New England.
ADVERTISEMENT
SPONSORED LINKS
Parents expect a college education to prepare their child for a career and for life, and they recognize this education as a serious investment of money, energy and time. For these reasons, and because the job market is continually changing, I recommend a degree in the liberal arts and sciences. A degree in history, biology, English, sociology or any of a broad range of programs teaches students how to learn. The process, more than the subject, provides the intellectual faculties that easily transfer to new careers and new life challenges.
In fact, Connecticut College graduates are in senior management at many businesses such as Federated Department Stores, Google, Estee Lauder and Forbes. In addition to high-level business roles, Connecticut College graduates are in leadership roles in every sector of society, including law, medicine, nonprofits, education, sciences and the arts.
Articles in top business publications regularly discuss the value of a liberal arts education as a foundation for professional life. My experience proves it. As a global investment banker, and vice chairman at Salomon Brothers during the fast-paced 1980s, I managed several high-profile, complex mergers. My success in these endeavors was due, in part, to my ability to analyze problems and issues from a multidisciplinary perspective - a skill ingrained in me as a liberal arts college student.
Years later, these same types of skills have helped me move into leadership positions at some of the finest higher education institutions in the country. Here, as in business, solutions depend upon a holistic approach.
In addition, there's no question that having a diverse group of individuals around a table leads to broadened consideration of an issue - critical for obtaining agreement. In the academic world or in business, this is important, and it's a learned skill of a leader.
Adaptability is essential in our complex, ambiguous and expanding sphere of work, influenced by an uncertain economy and world politics. Liberal education provides students qualities needed to succeed: higher-order thinking, effective and persuasive communication skills, an action-oriented approach, leadership and team-building aptitude, and a developed sense of self.
In my own case, as a history major, I learned the past is not meant to make us think of old models, but instead helps us look at issues with fresh eyes. Each situation today is less about what we've done before and more about re-thinking an issue from different perspectives. Liberal arts majors can think in different ways to see connections and derive solutions a technical major may not.
In many ways, technology has made our lives and careers more complicated because it brings with it unfiltered access to information. Business executives have a wealth of data at their disposal, but they can't blindly accept it. Instead they succeed when they recognize useful information, apply a broad base of knowledge and experiences to translate it into solutions, and then effectively communicate those solutions.
Constantly challenged to explore ideas outside their comfort zone, liberal arts students assess their own views, create an ethical base from their own personal values, discover their passion and find where they can make an impact. They are encouraged to seek balance in their lives. Broader perspectives and interests can result in the kind of innovative thinking that led Wesleyan graduate Herb Kelleher, former CEO of Southwest Airlines, to connect NASCAR pit crews to improved airline turnaround times.
Asking the right questions, hearing the answers and constructing solutions from information across disciplines - these are the tools a liberal education provides. A strong return on investment, a degree in liberal arts and sciences is an ideal starting place for career and life.
Leo I. Higdon Jr. is president of Connecticut College. His inauguration as the school's 10th president is Saturday. A graduate of Georgetown University with a degree in history, Higdon got an MBA from the University of Chicago. After serving in the Peace Corps, Higdon spent 20 years with Salomon Brothers and then became dean of the University of Virginia's Darden Graduate School of Business Administration. Subsequently, he was president of Babson College and the College of Charleston.
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: October, 2006; Peace Corps Malawi; Directory of Malawi RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Malawi RPCVs; University Administration
When this story was posted in December 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
 | All Volunteers Safe in Fiji All Volunteers in Fiji are safe and accounted for. The Peace Corps is monitoring the situation very closely. Volunteers are on standfast but there are no plans for evacuation at this time. Peace Corps is working closely with the US embassy and with host country partners to monitor the situation. Peace Corps is confident that volunteers are not in harm's way. The military seized control of Fiji on December 5 after weeks of threats. Subscribe to our news feed to read the latest breaking news. |
 | Ron Tschetter in Morocco and Jordan On his first official trip since being confirmed as Peace Corps Director, Ron Tschetter (shown at left with PCV Tia Tucker) is on a ten day trip to Morocco and Jordan. Traveling with his wife (Both are RPCVs.), Tschetter met with volunteers in Morocco working in environment, youth development, health, and small business development. He began his trip to Jordan by meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II and Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah and discussed expanding the program there in the near future. |
 | Chris Dodd's Vision for the Peace Corps Senator Chris Dodd (RPCV Dominican Republic) spoke at the ceremony for this year's Shriver Award and elaborated on issues he raised at Ron Tschetter's hearings. Dodd plans to introduce legislation that may include: setting aside a portion of Peace Corps' budget as seed money for demonstration projects and third goal activities (after adjusting the annual budget upward to accommodate the added expense), more volunteer input into Peace Corps operations, removing medical, healthcare and tax impediments that discourage older volunteers, providing more transparency in the medical screening and appeals process, a more comprehensive health safety net for recently-returned volunteers, and authorizing volunteers to accept, under certain circumstances, private donations to support their development projects. He plans to circulate draft legislation for review to members of the Peace Corps community and welcomes RPCV comments. |
 | He served with honor One year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor. |
 | Peace Corps' Screening and Medical Clearance The purpose of Peace Corps' screening and medical clearance process is to ensure safe accommodation for applicants and minimize undue risk exposure for volunteers to allow PCVS to complete their service without compromising their entry health status. To further these goals, PCOL has obtained a copy of the Peace Corps Screening Guidelines Manual through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has posted it in the "Peace Corps Library." Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to review the guidelines and leave their comments and suggestions. Then read the story of one RPCV's journey through medical screening and his suggestions for changes to the process. |
 | The Peace Corps is "fashionable" again The LA Times says that "the Peace Corps is booming again and "It's hard to know exactly what's behind the resurgence." PCOL Comment: Since the founding of the Peace Corps 45 years ago, Americans have answered Kennedy's call: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." Over 182,000 have served. Another 200,000 have applied and been unable to serve because of lack of Congressional funding. The Peace Corps has never gone out of fashion. It's Congress that hasn't been keeping pace. |
 | PCOL readership increases 100% Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come. |
 | History of the Peace Corps PCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help. |
Read the stories and leave your comments.
Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.
Story Source: Hartford Courant
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Malawi; University Administration
PCOL34688
29