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James G. Henkel, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Pharmacy at Saint Joseph College recently graduated from the Quest program (Class of 2011) of Leadership Greater Hartford. Quest, the signature program of Leadership Greater Hartford, works to strengthen leadership skills of individuals from a variety of different job backgrounds, by having them participate in workshops, gain familiarity with the Hartford community, and work on a group project that benefits the community.
In the 11-month program participants learned community-based leadership skills including different leadership strategies, ways to resolve conflict, and how to use these skills in their job as well as in the greater community.
During the program, Dr. Henkel worked on a taskforce to benefit the community. His team’s project focus was the YWCA/Covenant Preparatory School Art for Social Justice Experience. The team marketed and implemented social justice art workshops and exhibits of students at Covenant Preparatory School and the YWCA’s Young Women’s Leadership Program. The workshops and exhibits were a collaborative effort between students, teachers and community artists, using the visual arts to promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity. The project sought to spark conversations across all races, raise awareness and inspire positive action in the community.
“The Quest program allowed me to experience a completely unique side of Hartford and helped me to gain a much greater appreciation for the community as a whole,” Dr. Henkel said. “I hope our efforts on the Art for Social Justice project will help the young people we worked with to grow and prosper – they had a huge positive impact on me and I am most grateful for the opportunity to work with them.”
A resident of West Hartford, Dr. Henkel earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Brown University and his bachelor’s degree from UCLA. He joined the Saint Joseph College School of Pharmacy in 2009. Dr. Henkel was previously employed at the University of Connecticut for 23 years, where he served as a longtime faculty member in the School of Pharmacy as well as Associate Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Education and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the Graduate School.
Leadership Greater Hartford, having served the community for more than 35 years, is one of the largest nonprofit community-based leadership organizations in the country. Its programs are designed to help people realize their leadership potential and inspire them to build strong, vibrant workplaces and communities throughout Greater Hartford. Leadership Greater Hartford also provides customized consulting, training and regional orientation programs for organizations throughout Greater Hartford.