“ The way people use a place mirrors expectations” – William H. Whyte
Everyday thousands of our students, faculty and staff pass in and around Carleton’s buildings, pathways, tunnels and outdoor spaces. As our community interacts and use these spaces, are our ‘common spaces’, spaces like our foyers, atriums, quads, pathways, and gathering spaces supporting the values and culture of the University? How can the University transform our spaces that no one owns, yet every one shares, into spaces that mirror and set expectations for our community?
Our Strategic Impact Group, chose to examine the impact of common spaces on Carleton’s community, with the specific goal of establishing processes, initiatives and activities that can enhance common spaces to encourage engagement, learning, respect and community. We used the context of this ‘wicked problem’ to explore, experiment, and observe leadership within our group and ourselves, discovering that each of us contributed different forms and aspects of leadership as we advanced our ideas and tackled our problem. In ways we were leaderless – yet not without leadership.
- Brian Billings (Assistant Director, University Safety)
- Adrian Chan (Associate Professor, Systems and Computer Engineering)
- Yolana Junco (Assistant Director, Operations and Business Development, Athletics)
- Patrick Lyons (Director, Teaching and Learning, Teaching and Learning Services)
- James Opp (Associate Professor, History)
- Donald Russell (Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace; Associate Dean, Engineering and Design)
- James Wright (Associate Professor, Music)