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Community Outreach

The Ukleja Center for Ethical Leadership serves the business and professional communities through three major outreach initiatives:

John Wooden Ethics in Leadership Award

Recognized around the world for his ability to instill confidence and transmit his values to the on-court behavior of his players, former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden was presented with the inaugural John Wooden Ethics in Leadership Award by the Ukleja Center for Ethical Leadership in 2009.  At UCLA, Wooden’s basketball teams won more national championships than any other – 10 over a 12-year period.  His teams achieved the pinnacle of his “Pyramid of Success,” known as “Competitive Greatness.”  The pyramid is a value-based system of leadership that transcends the basketball court and can be applied to both the personal and professional leadership realms. 

The Ukleja Center’s John Wooden Ethics in Leadership Award, along with a $10,000 check, will be presented annually to a person or organization whose contribution to a relevant community – whether local, national or global – is built on ethical behavior and visionary leadership and reflects a significant response to a specific challenge or opportunity.  The award is designed to promote the practice of ethical leadership and to salute a leader who embodies the Ukleja Center’s core values of integrity, excellence, empowerment, abundance, and servant leadership.

The Ukleja Center for Ethical Leadership is delighted to announce that the 2010 John Wooden Ethics in Leadership Award will be presented to Special Olympics Southern California. This year’s award honors the mission, programs, and values of the Special Olympics organization and the visionary legacy of leadership created by its founder, Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports organization.  The Southern California chapter covers a geographic region encompassing eleven counties and extends from San Luis Obispo and Bakersfield to San Diego.  Programs are offered at no cost to the athletes and their families.  Children and adults with intellectual disabilities who participate in Special Olympics develop improved physical fitness and motor skills, greater self-confidence, and a more positive self-image.  The Special Olympics movement transforms communities by inspiring people throughout the world to open their minds, accept and include people with intellectual disabilities, and celebrate the similarities common to all people.  

The 2010 award presentation will take place at SOSC’s Summer Games on the campus of California State University, Long Beach in June.  Rafer Johnson, former Olympic Silver and Gold Medalist in Decathlon, will accept the award on behalf of Special Olympics Southern California.  Rafer Johnson’s involvement with the organization dates back to 1968, when he attended the first competition conducted by Special Olympics founder, Eunice Kennedy Shriver.  After over 40 years, he continues to carry the torch for what has now become a worldwide movement, Special Olympics.

Stay tuned for an invitation to join us at the presentation ceremony on Saturday morning, June 12, 2010!

William Dickson Leader-in-Residence Program

Thanks to a generous donation from the Dickson family, the annual William Dickson Leader-in-Residence program was launched in 2007.  Through this program, the Ukleja Center invites prominent business executives, government officials, and leaders of nonprofit organizations to spend a week in residence at the University.

Leaders-in-residence engage with CSULB students, faculty, and alumni with the aim of fostering an interdisciplinary leadership community at the University.  They interact in a variety of settings, including formal classroom instruction, informal topical discussions with small groups of students and/or faculty, presentations to community leaders, and scheduled or informal meetings with individuals.  Through these interactions, members of the University community can test their understanding of ethical leadership concepts, discover how these concepts are used in practice, and learn how to evaluate the relevance of research and theory in relation to the realities of responsible leadership.

The Ukleja Center was delighted to present Richard Strozzi-Heckler, Ph.D., President of Strozzi Institute, as its 2009 William Dickson Leader-in-Residence.  Dr. Strozzi-Heckler is a nationally known speaker, coach, and consultant on leadership and mastery.  A pioneer in the field of Somatics and sixth degree black belt in Aikido, Dr. Strozzi-Heckler is the author of seven books, including the nationally acclaimed The Leadership Dojo, In Search of the Warrior Spirit, and The Anatomy of Change.  During his residency on campus, Dr. Strozzi-Heckler led experiential workshops, made classroom presentations to students, and also interacted with a variety of faculty and community leaders.

Watch for an upcoming announcement about the Ukleja Center’s 2010 William Dickson Leader-in-Residence!

Faculty Fellows Program

The Ukleja Center for Ethical Leadership recently launched a Faculty Fellows program.  The program is designed to engage highly respected corporate, government, and nonprofit leaders with faculty and students.  Dr. Maria Claver, Assistant Professor of Gerontology, serves as Program Chair. 

Faculty Fellows contribute their professional expertise to further the Ukleja Center’s mission of equipping people with the transformational power of ethical leadership through classroom presentations, lectures and informal talks, and panel discussions.  They receive a three-year teaching appointment that officially affiliates them with the Ukleja Center for Ethical Leadership, College of Business Administration, and California State University, Long Beach.

The Ukleja Center is proud to announce its 2008-2011 Faculty Fellows:

Beverly O'NeillBeverly O’Neill
Former Mayor, Long Beach, California

Beverly O'Neill was mayor of Long Beach, California’s 5th largest city, from 1994-2006.  Dr. O'Neill was a major force in changing the Long Beach economy into a diversified mix of international trade, tourism, emerging technologies, and expanding retail.  As a member of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Mayor O'Neill chaired the standing committee on Jobs, Education, and Workforce and served as the organization’s president in 2005-2006.  Prior to becoming mayor, Dr. O'Neill spent a 31-year career at Long Beach City College beginning as a music instructor and women’s advisor.  She advanced to Campus Dean, Dean of Student Affairs, Vice President of Student Services, and spent her last five years as Superintendent-President of the Long Beach Community College District.

Robert A. EckertRobert A. Eckert
Chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
Mattel, Inc.

Robert A. Eckert is board chair and chief executive officer of Mattel, Inc., the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture, and marketing of toys with more than $6 billion in annual sales.  Eckert joined Mattel in May 2000 from Kraft Foods, Inc., the largest U.S.-based packaged food company in the world.  A 23-year veteran of Kraft, Mr. Eckert most recently served as its president and chief executive officer.  In that role, he was responsible for overseeing all of Kraft’s business units and for leading the company’s policy decision-making board, the Operating Committee.  In addition, Eckert held the position of president of Oscar Mayer Foods, where he significantly accelerated its performance with steady improvements in market share.