Fielding Graduate University

Are you interested in working on organizational development projects that help nonprofits, business and governmental agencies become more effective? Maybe you’d like to have an impact on issues such as elders in societal leadership roles, global communication transformation, and the blending of research and professional practice. 

When you get involved with the Institute for Social Innovation (ISI), you can engage with a wide variety of projects in three program areas:

1. Frontiers in research - Knowledge that blends multidisciplinary theory and professional practice  
2. Leadership for change - Continuing education programs for leaders who want to be change agents
3. Organizational development - Work that builds more effective organizations

Projects that blend multidisciplinary theory and professional practice

• Creative Longevity and Wisdom studies the many dimensions of what it means to age well and the opportunities and challenges associated with an aging population. Our Creative Longevity and Wisdom outstanding scholars have made substantial contributions to the field of positive aging. They include Fernando Torres-Gil, Director, Center for Policy Research on Aging and Former Assistant Secretary for Aging, US Human and Health Services under the Clinton Administration; Connie Goldman, CEO, Connie Goldman Productions;Rick (Harry) Moody, PhD, Academic Director, AARP; Gisela Labouvie-Vief, PhD, Professor, University of Geneva; George Vaillant, MD, Professor, Harvard Medical School.
• Project for sustainable well-being - In conjunction with the Rudolf Steiner Foundation Social Finance, the Institute for Social Innovation (ISI) is supporting the Project for Sustainable Well-Being. This project seeks to remove obstacles in the path toward a sustainability future for humanity. Outcomes are a multidisciplinary, evidence-based metric to be used by researchers, practitioners and clients as they design living personal economies that can inform research and policy for years to come.
• Foundation for the Advancement for Social Theory (FAST) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering research on theories about how society functions. A project of an ISI Alumni Fellow, FAST conducts research project in communities that strengthens understanding about social issues. 
• Worldwide Network for Gender Empowerment (WNGE) is a virtual network of scholars and activists from around the world who are committed to research and action in support of knowledge and change, related to women's and gender issues.
• Annual International Conference on Positive Aging This conference is a gathering of diverse leaders who are shaping a dynamic future for older adults throughout the world. The conference invites submissions associated with aging and ageism, caregiving, civic engagement, community, creativity, dialogue, diversity, entrepreneurship, generativity, global & transcultural contexts, housing, intergenerational issues, lifelong learning, life transitions, public policy, services, spirituality, sustainability, wellness, workplace issues, and work in the second half of life.
  

Continuing education programs that lead to positive social change

• Global Nomadic Leadership
  Fielding is partnering with MKB Conseil to offer courses in Global Nomadic Leadership.
  
• Evidence Based Coaching (Academic Credit) This year-long program is designed for aspiring coaches and those who seek certification from the International Coach Federation. Evidence based coaching links theory and research from disciplines such as psychology, communication, and organizational studies, with training in current coaching techniques and best practices.
• Integral Studies  (Academic Credit) This year-long program is based on the work of philosopher of Dr. Ken Wilber and his colleagues at Integral Institute. This certificate allows students to apply the Integral Model to a range of organizational management and development challenges.
• Dialogue, Deliberation, and Public Engagement (Academic Credit) This innovative course was honored for academic and professional excellence by the International Association for Public Participation. Students develop competencies in dialogue with an exceptional faculty of scholar-practitioners from diverse contexts and cultures, and create culminating capstone projects.

3.  Organizational Development

Collaboration that builds more effective organizations

• Custom Programs are offered for professionals as well as corporate, government and nonprofit organizations.   Recent clients include Disney, First Data Corporation, Palmetto Health of South Carolina, and Prudential Life Insurance.
• Improving Organizational Capacity Institute teams work with corporate, government, and nonprofit organizations to increase their effectiveness and ability to lead and manage change. Team are comprised of Fielding faculty, students, and alumni, and Institute consultants. Collaboration with a wide range of organizations around the country include the Center for Creative Leadership, the Institute for Conservation Leadership, Orion House, and Wilderness Inquiry.

The Institute publishes the ISI newsletter and has also published Creative Longevity: Essays on Aging and Wisdom, available for download below.

• ISI Newsletter Summer '11
• Creative Longevity: Essays on Aging and Wisdom

For more information about these resources, if you have a protential organizational development project or questions about these initiatives please email us.