ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College department of intercollegiate athletics continued its recently-implemented Leadership Academy with a special guest speaker -- John Felker '78, a former commanding officer in the United States Coast Guard and current Director of Cyber and Intelligence Strategy at Hewlett-Packard.
 
Felker played football at Ithaca College for head coach Jim Butterfield and cited his time at IC and in playing for Butterfield for building the base of his leadership traits. What he learned from his Ithaca College athletics career was to have class, pay attention to detail, conduct himself with poise and concentration, and to work hard.
 
"Your involvement in athletics here at Ithaca provides a great opportunity to learn some great leadership skills. What I'd like to do is try to connect the dots based on what I learned here and based on what I learned growing up in the Coast Guard," Felker said. "There are two things that are really critical in military service – mission and leadership. The things that you take away from the playing fields here will help establish who you are as a leader."
 
Following his graduation from Ithaca College, Felker had a nearly 30-year career in the Coast Guard and was involved in senior roles in surface operations, international affairs, intelligence and cyber operations. He went on to a role as vice president for cyber security programs at SCI Consulting before taking his current position at Hewlett-Packard.
 
The non-required event attracted more than 100 upperclass students who are involved in the Academy as well as several Ithaca College head coaches and assistant coaches and was held Dec. 3 at Textor Hall.

Felker opened his presentation with a quote from former United States Secretary of State Colin Powell that differentiates between leadership and management. "Leadership is the art of accomplishing more than the science of management says is possible."
 
The principles of leadership that Felker detailed started with emphasizing standards and defining what's important in developing a culture. There are numerous decisions made and actions taken every day by people that demonstrate their standards and values. Consistency in those decisions and behaviors creates the culture of the group, and leaders must embrace their responsibility in shaping culture. Taking ownership of the standards and communicating expectations is what great leaders are able to do.
 
Following Felker's discussion on leadership and examples of experiences that have shaped his leadership style, he led a panel discussion of current Ithaca College coaches and athletes that allowed them to express the importance and role of leadership on their respective teams.
 
Panel members included four student-athletes: Nina Lindberg, a senior softball athlete majoring in documentary and film studies; Sam Carney, a senior football athlete majoring in communication studies; Vito Boffoli, a senior football athlete majoring in occupational therapy; and Ali Woller, a senior women's lacrosse athlete majoring in exercise science. Coaches on the panel were women's crew and sculling head coach Becky Robinson '88 and football head coach Mike Welch '73.
 
Robinson said that her idea of leadership starts with communicating expectations and supporting that by demonstrating accountability to the expectations that have been set. Welch reiterated leading by example, that leadership can't be faked and that the ultimate leaders are judged and determined by what they've done.
 
In closing, Felker left the group with two ideas that show leadership in action. "Keep your word, and be nice," Felker said. "If you demonstrate leadership, being nice is easy."
 
The Leadership Academy, led by Dr. Greg Shelley, instills traits and philosophies that will be applicable in athletes' sport participation at Ithaca College and will also serve them in professional and personal endeavors for the rest of their lives. The program was introduced in the spring of 2014 and is fully implemented for the 2014-15 school year. Approximately 300 student-athletes representing all 27 varsity sports are participating in the program, which builds upon its curriculum across each year of the Academy.

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