Becoming a Strengths-Based Department

This past year, A&E faculty and staff committed to becoming a strengths-based department.  StrengthsQuest™, based on the principles of positive psychology, is a Gallup organization development program for college-age students.  It is a tool and system providing students (and faculty) the opportunity to develop based on their strengths rather than their weaknesses.  As Gallup notes, “…it helps students learn what they do best, then build their lives on those talents.”

All A&E faculty and staff have participated in StrengthsQuest™ training at Gallup’s Omaha, Nebraska, campus over the past year.  The student-program was incorporated into our introductory departmental course this past fall.  Dr. Mills presented an oral presentation co-authored by former faculty member, Dr. Kent Gallaher, and agribusiness graduate, Brenna Ellison, at the 2008 NACTA conference noting the positive impacts of the program among our incoming freshmen and transfer students.