Exploring the new face of leadership, this edited collection contains nineteen stories from young graduates grappling with the complexities of leading in the fourth industrial revolution. These courageous leaders tackle challenges from energy efficiency to racial healing, and discover more about themselves, their communities, and the world they hope to change.
Co-edited by career specialist Melanie Buford and leadership studies alumna Jacquelyn Burt, and with a foreword by higher education scholar Jennifer Trost, this volume examines leadership from multiple angles. It addresses what theorist John Dugan has called the "remarkable gap" between what we know about leadership and what we do with that knowledge.
Each story expands our understanding of how leadership is practiced every day, providing useful tools, lessons in imperfection, professional guidance, and hopes for the future. This book offers inspiration for the next generation of leaders for social change.
Melanie V. Buford is an instructor for the Leadership Minor at the University of Minnesota, and an author/consultant specializing in career development. She has been conducting research and teaching for fifteen years, strengthening innovation and equity in the field. In 2020, Melanie led the editing team of Mapping the Future of Undergraduate Career Education, an international effort to evolve career preparation in higher education. Her work has been recognized by various career, experiential education, and social justice organizations. She has received the Kenneth B. Hoyt Career Education Practitioner Award (National Career Development Association), the Ralph W. Tyler Award for Outstanding Research and Publication (Cooperative Education & Internship Association), and the Sunny Hansen Graduate Student Award (Minnesota Career Development Association), and was named a Rising Star by YWCA Cincinnati. She earned her PhD in organizational leadership, policy, and development from the University of Minnesota, and her EdM in human development and psychology from Harvard Graduate School of Education.
"If you are aspiring to be a leader and change agent, this book is for you! Beyond the Minor provides real-life personal insights into the opportunities and challenges for those who choose to make a difference." — June Nobbe, cofounder, University of Minnesota leadership minor
"Beyond the Minor reminds us that leadership learning is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor but a journey shaped by critical reflection, hope, and intentional growth. For those embarking on their own leadership journey, this book offers not only inspiration but also a reminder of the beauty and power in embracing the unique and transformative paths we each create in leading for social change." — Vongrathayuth Hingphith, instructor, Leadership Minor; board of directors, Southeast Asian Service Leadership Network
"These stories connect students' learned experiences from the classroom to life after college by sharing how these individuals applied leadership principles to their life journeys. I recommend that everyone reads this book to gain insight into how students can connect what they learn in the classroom to their career path." — Calvin Phillips, vice president for student affairs, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
"The Leadership Minor has been clearly one of the most applicable to real life education experiences a college student can have. I was there at the inception, referred students for years—and in my role as the director of the University YMCA, I see a true alignment in our community and commitment to supporting the growth of college students as authentic leaders in their communities. This 'coming together' of faculty and former students paints a recognizable tapestry of the weave and value of learning and life experience!" — Patti Neiman, director, University YMCA of the North
