Leading Through Crisis: A Model for Education Collaboration

A model recovery inspires a model for education collaboration.

In May 2010, Tennessee was hit with a 1,000 year flood. Rainfall exceeded 17 inches--the most ever recorded. In Nashville, the Cumberland River crested at 12 feet above flood stage. The flood caused an estimated $2.3 billion in private property damage. Thirty-one people died in Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama. In only 36 hours, Nashville was thrown into a crisis by a natural disaster that affected an entire region.

In contrast to some high-profile disasters, Nashville has been praised for its leadership and response. Was it luck? Was it the “Volunteer” spirit? What does leadership look like, when everything is falling apart? Successful management of both routine and catastrophic disasters is closely linked to leadership, communication and decision-making skills. Because of this, Lipscomb University’s Nelson and Sue Andrews Institute for Civic Leadership (ICL) and Institute of Conflict Management (ICM) have partnered to develop a curriculum for a certificate in Crisis Leadership. In doing so, they bring a new model of "blended" certificates to Lipscomb University.