Traci Scott, Regional Liaison Officer at Fort Riley, has been selected for the inaugural class of the Presidential Leadership Scholars program.

This is a leadership development initiative that draws upon the resources of the presidential centers of Lyndon B. Johnson, George H. W. Bush, William J. Clinton, and George W. Bush. Sixty scholars have been invited to participate in the program’s inaugural class out of more than 900 applicants. The program begins Feb. 24.

The six-month, executive-style program will begin at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Over the course of several months, scholars will travel to each participating presidential center to learn from former presidents, key administration officials, and leading academics . They will study and put into practice varying approaches to leadership, develop a network of peer, and exchange ideas with mentors and others who can help them make an impact in their communities. Scott noted they will learn about the history of the specific presidents and libraries. “We learn about other things such as how to communicate, how to build a coalition, and how to negotiate, how to make decisions.”

Scott noted the first person they will hear from, the first teacher for their class, will be former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

Scholars will visit the William J. Clinton Presidential Center in March, the George W. Bush Presidential Center in April, the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library in May, and the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library in June. The inaugural class will graduate at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas in July.