Academy librarian accepted into prestigious leadership program

  • Published
  • By Amber Baillie
  • Academy Spirit staff writer
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Academy electronic resources librarian Janice Young looks back on her experiences as a high school teacher and resource for the homeless in her hometown of Las Vegas and can't help but want to serve the Colorado Springs community.

Young wants to pass on her leadership knowledge to the next generation and will get that opportunity through the Leadership Pikes Peak Signature Program this month.

Young, along with 50 other applicants from the Pikes Peak region, were competitively selected to participate in the 2012 Leadership Pikes Peak Signature Program from August through June. Participants will commit to the 10-month training program to gain a deeper understanding of the community through leadership skill development in the areas of communication, problem-solving and strategic decision-making.

"During the program we're going to learn all those critical competencies a good leader needs to possess," Young said. "Working at the Academy where the core mission is developing leaders of character, I'm excited to bring back what I learn and share my knowledge with the students."

Young said she will never forget the day she found out she had been accepted into the program: the day she was evacuated from her home in Mountain Shadows due to the Waldo Canyon fire.

"In the midst of all of that chaos, I received an email saying 'You've been accepted into the Leadership Pikes Peak Signature Program,'" Young said. "I needed that good news."

Young has always had a passion for education and the homeless population. In college, Young worked for M.A.S.H Village, a globalization shelter for the homeless and decided to switch her major from theatre to sociology because of the profound impact the job had on her.

"Working at the homeless shelter was the most humbling experience I have ever had," Young said. "What was really shocking to me was the number of veterans who are homeless. I'm a Navy veteran of 10 years and received an honorable discharge so I was really shocked to see that."

Young taught at parochial and private schools in Nevada and went on to earn her master's degree in education. Later she received a master's degree in library science and was given the opportunity to create a library at St. Anne Catholic School.

"The school had been without a library for several years and our accreditation inspection was scheduled for the start of the fall school term," Young said. "When school started in August, the library contained 10,000 volumes and the adjacent computer and media lab had 45 new computers."

After being at the Academy for three and a half years, Young said she felt it was her duty to help the younger generation get involved and applied to the leadership development program.

"As a librarian, I'm not part of the faculty," Young said. "After reading USAFA Outcomes however, I realized that if I were to help cadets develop as leaders, the leadership development program would enhance my capabilities."

Young said she was looking for an avenue to get involved in the community.

"Education is a big priority for me and as a former teacher I plan to volunteer with the Pikes Peak Community Development Initiative 2012-2013 College Readiness and Success," Young said.

Young said she wouldn't be able to participate in the program if she hadn't received a scholarship from the El Pomar Emerging Leaders Program.

"It's $2,900 for the course, and I was very fortunate I received this scholarship to cover my tuition," Young said.

As an award recipient, Young will attend quarterly advisory board meetings for the ELD program, be a trustee for the Black Advisory Council and attend the 2012 El Pomar Emerging Leaders Program retreat and reception Nov. 8 at Doolittle Hall.

"It gives me great pride that one of our own, Janice Young, was selected for this transformational opportunity," said Academy Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Adis Vila. "While Janice benefits personally, the larger benefits accrue to the Academy as Janice will bring the richness of her fellowship experiences to her work unit and through her volunteer activities at USAFA and in Colorado Springs to our Air Force and nation."

The Leadership Pikes Peak Signature Program will include one or two meeting days per month. Classes will be held at multiple locations throughout the community and participants will complete a course project. Each session will address a particular topic and include speakers, interviews, interactive discussions, and field trips.

"Each month we'll participate in various subjects from education day, services day, military day, state legislation day and local government day," Young said. "I'm looking forward to learning about the community and the different components that makes Southern Colorado so special."

Young will give a presentation Aug. 7 titled, "Bridging the Military to the Community" as part of the Colorado Springs diversity forum at the East Library in Colorado Springs.

"The military has a profound impact on the community and vice versa," Young said. "Once I'm in the program I will have a better grasp on it, better direction on where I want to get involved and be able to share my experience with the Academy."

Once Young completes the program, she said she plans to get involved in the Colorado Springs community through civic engagement and serve on a non-profit board, local and state board commissions.

"Gandhi said you have to be the change that you want to see in the world and there is trepidation when you step out on that branch and open yourself up to criticism and failure," Young said. For me though, it's something I'm passionate about so if I fall, I fall, but regardless I want to help others achieve their goals."