LWL Conference
Registration for the 2025 Leadership and the Good Life Conference is FREE! Register today to secure your place at this exciting conference!
Conference Goals: Leadership and the Good Life
This year's conference will focus on the intersection of leadership and the "good
life." Our goal is to examine how leadership can enhance human flourishing and contribute
to a life worth living. We will explore:
- The role of leadership in personal and community well-being
- Ethical leadership in various professional sectors
- The integration of values and leadership practices in a diverse and changing world"
Detailed Conference Schedule
Day 1: Thursday Evening Wine and Mingle in Philips Autograph Library (700 S. High
St., West Chester, PA 19383)
- 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM: Guest Arrival and Registration
- 6:30 PM - 7:45 PM: Welcome Reception, Wine and Snacks
- 7:45 PM - 8:15 PM: Introductory Session
- 8:15 PM - 9:00 PM: Mingle or head back to the hotel for personal time
Day 2: Main Conference Day
- 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM: Registration and Breakfast
- 8:45 AM: Opening Remarks
- 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Keynote Speaker - Dr. Angela Gorrell
- 10:00 AM - 10:10 AM: Short break
- 10:10 AM - 11:40 AM: Morning Breakout Session
- BPMC 204:
- Panel discussion: Leadership and the Good Life: Ethics, Well-Being, and the Evolving Role of DEI, Beverly Magda, Julia Dunst, Elena Lawrick, Wanda Copeland
- BPMC 208:
- “FREGH Leadership and the Good Life: Exploring the Intersections of Spiritual, Servant,
Social,” Dr. Adeyinka Oduwole (Yinka)
- “Ambition in Business for a Life Worth Living,” John A. Pearce II, PhD
- “Personal Leadership: an ARC Perspective,” Mike McGough
- BPMC 210:
- “The Global Flourishing Project: A Guide for Christian Relief, Development, and Advocacy
Organizations?,” David Bronkema
- “Educational Leadership: Integration of Values and Transformational Leadership Practices
in a Diverse and Changing World,” Hyacinth Anuncha
- “Empowering the Future: A Leadership Development Model for Graduate International
Students at HBCU’s and its Role in Well-being,” Ozioma Okehielem & Julius Oku
- 11:40 AM - 1:00 PM: Lunch Break
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Breakout Sessions 2
- BPMC 204:
- Interactive workshop: Start Where You Are: Faris Alami’s Story of Resilient Leadership, Faris Alami
- BPMC 208:
- “Living the Questions: Teaching the Skills for a Life of Meaning and Purpose in Secondary
Schools” Michael LoStracco
- “The Good Life and Reading Well: Equipping Students to Reflect on a Life Well-Lived
Beyond the Classroom,” James W. Waters, Ph.D.
- BPMC 210:
- “Utopia, Ideology, and the Good life, in Paul Ricoeur’s Philosophy”– Paul Harris
- “The Golem - from Anti-Semitic projections of diff…”, Jason Ager
- BPMC 211:
- “Have I Sold Out? Lessons Learned for an Anti-Hierarchical Department Head,” Andrew
Smith
- “From Global to Transnational Citizenship: Challenging 21st Century Hyper-Authoritarianism”,
Marcia Morgan
- 2:00 PM - 2:10 PM: Short Break
- 2:10 PM - 3:10 PM: Breakout Session 3
- BPMC 204:
- Breakout Session with Dr. Angela Gorrell
- BPMC 208:
- “Grades and Teaching Ethics: The Obstacle to Humanities Education,” Matt Rupert
- “Making Ethical Theory Relevant: Framing Action-Centered Ethical Theories in Terms
of Character" Dan Forbes
- BPMC 210:
- “Values, AI, and the Good Life,” Steven Scalet
- “Owning the Questions,” Lisa Schoenberg
- 3:10 PM - 3:20 PM: Short Break
- 3:20 PM - 4:20 PM: Breakout Session 4
- BPMC 204:
- Panel papers/discussion: Humility East and West: Religious Perspectives on Virtue and Leadership, Justin Henry and Josh Fenska
- BPMC 208:
- “This is Not How We Live: Olypiodorus’ Gorgias Commentary on the Pedagogical Primacy
of Character in the Flourishing Life,” James Ambury
- “Teaching for Virtue,” Denise Vigani
- BPMC 210:
- “Reimagining Leadership Assessment Tools for Evolving Workforce Expectations,” Caitlin
Long
- “Cultivating Civility & Intellectual Humility: Essential Leadership in Higher Education”,
Johann Ducharme
- BPMC 211:
- “Gratitude As An Equalizer of Value,” Felix Rowland
- “Unaccompanied, but Not Alone: A Capella as a Good Life Model of Leadership”, Spencer
Comacho
- 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Closing Remarks & Networking
Parking Information for the Conference
Free parking will be available to conference participants behind the Sykes Student
Union Building (110 W Rosedale Ave, West Chester, PA 19382). The majority of conference
activities will take place at the Business and Public Management Building, which is
roughly a two block walk from the Student Union Building.
Sharpless Garage (25 Sharpless St, West Chester, PA 19382) is located directly across
the street from the Business and Public Management Building, however, there is a charge
of $1.50/hour up to a maximum of $9.00 for a full day of parking. We will not be supplying
parking vouchers for the garage, however, you are welcome to park there for the duration
of the conference if you prefer.
About our Keynote Speaker
Rev. Dr. Angela Gorrell is an author, speaker, and consultant. Dr. Angela taught Life
Worth Living at Yale University and leads Life Worth Living journeys for all types
of leaders. She also writes about finding joy, meaning, and purpose. Dr. Angela's
new book is Braving Difficult Decisions: What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do.
She hosts the "More Human with Dr. Angela" podcast which has episodes on YouTube and
Spotify. You can subscribe to her newsletter on her website for inspirational content
and info about Life Worth Living retreats.
For more information about Rev. Dr. Angela Gorrell check out her instagram @angelagorrell
or her website.
Conference FAQs
Unfortunately, the conference cannot be joined virtually. However, we will be hosting
several webinars via zoom, which will be shared with our mailing list. You are welcome
to participate in the webinars.
Absolutely! Two papers will be presented in each room during each session. You are
welcome to move freely between rooms if you'd like to attend different papers within
the same time block.
We will provide a light breakfast and a lunch during Friday's conference. Thursday
night will be a wine and mingle welcoming event. Please indicate which meals you will
be present for on your conference registration.
- Gryphon Cafe
- Turks Head Cafe
- Dia Doce - Coffee + Cupcakes (Vegan + Gluten Free Cupcakes available)
- Twin Valley Coffee
- Mayday Coffee + Shop
- La Baguette Magique - French Pastries and coffee
- Lacava Coffee Company
- Saxby's (On campus coffee shop)
Local Dining:
- 65+ Restaurants in Downtown West Chester.
- Restaurant Directory
- Fine Dining:
- Andiario
- 9 Prime Steakhouse
- Pietro's Prime
- Mercato Ristorante & Bar
- Limoncello Ristorante & Caterers
- Casual Dining:
- Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant
- Sedona Taphouse
- The Tomato Shack
- Buddy's Burgers
- Jaco Taco
- Más Mexicali Cantina - Rooftop Bar and Restaurant
- Vegetarian friendly:
- Love Again Local - 100% Vegan Deli
- Roots Cafe - Vegetarian menu options
Head to Downtown West Chester for First Friday! To celebrate, we are hosting a Summer Concert Series, sponsored by M&T Bank, on the First Friday of June, July, August, and September! Different bands will perform
at multiple locations across Downtown West Chester from 5:30pm - 7:30pm.
This month:
Check out @downtownwestchester on instagram for great local recommendations and events!
- Downtown West Chester
- Bier and Loathing - Arcade Bar experience
- Turks Head Wines - Wines bottled in Northern California and brought to The Tasting Room and the Wine
Lounge in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
- Local book stores:
- Baldwin's Book Barn located at 865 Lenape Rd, West Chester, PA 19382, is five stories of books and charm.
Built in 1822, Baldwin's Book Barn is a unique destination to visit while in West
Chester.
- Second Reading Book Store - 32 N Church St, West Chester, PA
- Bookmarks - 100 E Gay St, West Chester, PA
- Bookstore Bakery - 145 E Gay St, West Chester, PA
- Local Parks
- Everhart Park - Downtown West Chester
- Natural Lands' Stroud Preserve - 454 N Creek Rd, West Chester, PA 19382
- Brandywine Park - 680 N Creek Rd, West Chester, PA 19380
- Longwood Gardens (20 minutes away)
- The Summer season at award-winning Longwood Gardens is called the "Festival of Fountains".
Discover beautiful fountain displays among blooming gardens and greenhouses. Check
out their website for timed tickets and weekend events.
- Valley Forge National Historical Park (17 minutes away)
- 45 minute drive from Center City, Philadelphia
- Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Liberty Bell and the Independence National Historical Park
- Philadelphia Magic Gardens
- The Franklin Institute
- Reading Terminal Market
- Philadelphia Zoo
