Date of Award

2014

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Leadership (MAL)

Department

Leadership

First Advisor

Susan Nash

Second Advisor

Joyce Miller

Abstract

Four-year liberal arts colleges seek to expand knowledge and prepare undergraduate sfudents for vocational service to an increasingly complex and global society. This requires colleges to lead transformatively, in keeping with their vision, mission and values, to maintain institutional integrity. As a regionally accredited, Christian affiliated liberal arts college Augsburg College should provide a baccalaureate degree that is potentially transformative. A hermeneutic phenomenological study, informed by Transfotmational Leadership Theory, was conducted by interviewing four Bachelor of Science in Nursing completion graduates to explore the change in their call to professional caring service through their educational journey. Four essential themes emerged from the data. 1) An opened mind to multiple ways of knowing. 2) Non-judgmental acceptance and respect for diversity. 3) Personal growth translated into vocation and opportunity. 4) A transformed holistic orientation to their patients. These themes demonstrate professional vocational transformation in these students' lives consistent with expected BSN outcomes and Augsburg's vision and mission.

Identifier

SC 11.MAL.2014.Henslin.L

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