Students in Niagara College’s Advanced Law Enforcement and Investigations (Graduate Certificate) program received a home-grown lesson in leadership from the college’s own long-time president Dan Patterson.
Patterson stopped by the Ethics and Leadership class on Nov. 22 to share some of the many insights and tips he’s found most valuable over his 23 years as president of NC. The Ethics and Leadership course brings in a number of guest speakers, usually five to six per term, to offer insight into their personal leadership journeys and describe how their leadership has positively influenced their respective organizational cultures and their organization’s behaviour.
“Dan has been a guest of our Ethics and Leadership class for five years now, and each visit he brings valuable lessons in leadership that our students can reflect on and develop within themselves as they aspire to a challenging career in law enforcement,” said program coordinator and professor Mark Simchison.
In his over two-decade time as NC president, Patterson has seen the college through a litany of accomplishments and challenges and shared how NC’s leadership structure allows the college to adapt to those opportunities. He also gave students insight into how his role as president has helped change and influence the college’s direction and culture. “I always ask myself when I go into a room: how can I make a difference? How can I contribute to that discussion?”
A key way of contributing to those discussions, Patterson said is taking the time to build relationships within and outside of an organization. This skill has been critical in helping move the college forward. Specifically, Patterson mentioned provincial funding for the college’s Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus – funding that was set to be cut, but was saved thanks to strong relationship skills at the college.
Students also took to heart some of the personal keys to success that Patterson shared. Of particular importance at the college, he noted, was the shared commitment to student success, the NC DNA, that has helped different personalities, with different leadership styles, rally around a common cause to achieve success, a leadership trait that goes beyond the four walls of the College.
“When you look at great leaders, no matter where they are, they are driven by a set of values.Every step of the way, we ask ourselves, “how do we all work together to ensure our students have a great experience at Niagara College?””
Patterson also impressed upon students the importance of committing to life-long learning, in order to adapt and grow throughout one’s career. “You have to embrace lifelong learning. Constantly stay open to new ideas, have your own personal goals. Sometimes you won’t meet them, sometimes you’ll get discouraged, but always think ahead.”
