Central College will present the 2014 De Cook Lecture, featuring Jann Freed, professor emerita, April 14.
Freed is a graduate of Central as well as serving as a professor in the department of economics, accounting and management for 30 years. She is the former Mark and Kay De Cook Endowed Chair in Character and Leadership Development, and during her years at Central she also served as interim vice-president of academic affairs and department and division chair. Freed is currently a leadership development and change management consultant with The Genysys Group.
As a leadership development scholar turned practitioner who is deeply committed to people’s personal and professional development, Freed will speak on how ego development should be part of leadership development. When leaders understand the power of the ego, they can control the ego and not let the ego control them.
Keith Jones, current Mark and Kay De Cook Endowed Chair in Character and Leadership Development and professor of psychology, said, “Jann has the special ability to connect with people across generations. She is the perfect person to reach emerging and established leaders.”
The lecture, titled “Your Ego is Not Your Amigo,” will take place at 7 p.m. April 14 in the Dave and Ardith Sutphen Common Room in the Graham Annex. A short reception will follow the address. Freed is the author of five books including the most recent, “Leading with Wisdom: Sage Advice from 100 Experts,” and copies of her book will be available for purchase and signing after the lecture. The lecture is free and open to the public.
The De Cook Lecture is made possible by the support of Mark and Kay De Cook who also fund the Mark and Kay De Cook Endowed Chair in Character and Leadership Development. Freed is the first former De Cook Chair to present the De Cook Lecture.