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University of Pennsylvania
SUMMER 2017
College of Liberal and Professional Studies
Fox Leadership International
GLOBAL LEADERSHIP and PROBLEM-SOLVING
Following Franklin’s Global Footsteps into the 21st Century
In 1740, Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), the world-historic scientist, inventor, and statesman,
founded The University of Pennsylvania. Penn, as the university is best known, was America’s
first major nonsectarian institution of higher learning, welcoming people of all religions and of
no religion. Today, Penn is a renowned Ivy League school occupying a beautiful urban campus
in America’s first capital city, historic Philadelphia. Penn is consistently ranked among
America’s top ten universities, and Penn is ranked first in many academic fields.
Franklin signed or shaped each of the American Republic’s fundamental documents: the
Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution. Especially
during his last years, he worked to ensure that the new nation’s public laws were translated into
timely and effective actions by government officials, both elected and appointed.
Franklin also signed the Treaty of Paris. He was among the best known and most respected
Americans of his time in Europe. Throughout his diplomatic career, he preached that all peoples
had civic and moral duties beyond their own respective national borders. He practiced a
principled but pragmatic brand of global leadership.
In September 2015, two present-day global leaders, Pope Francis and President Xi Jinping,
each visited the United States. In addressing a Joint Session of Congress, the Pope observed:
Our world is increasingly a place of violent conflict…We are asked to summon the
courage and the intelligence to resolve today’s many geopolitical and economic crises.
Even in the developed world, the effects of unjust structures are all too apparent. Our
efforts must aim at restoring hope, righting wrongs, maintaining commitments, and thus
promoting the well-being of individuals and of peoples. 1
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His Holiness Pope Francis, Address to a Joint Session of the United States Congress, September 24, 2015.
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During President Xi’s September 2015 visit to America, he echoed words from a speech he gave
in China concerning the aspirations of today’s Chinese people—words that apply as well to
today’s American people and, indeed, to the present-day peoples of most other nations:
They want to have better education, more stable jobs, more income, reliable social
security, better medical and health care, improved housing conditions and a beautiful
environment. They hope that their children will have sound growth, good jobs and more
enjoyable lives. 2
More recently, in an address delivered in January 2017 at the United Nations Office in Geneva,
Switzerland, President Xi envisioned 21st century international relations as a means of building a
global “community of common destiny” that “transcends all sorts of differences in human
society,” fosters “win-win” forms of international cooperation, collaboration, and healthy
competition, and “targets greatest possible benefits for all.” 3
In several fundamental respects, the kindred ideas and sentiments about global affairs expressed
by Pope Francis and President Xi were presaged by U.S. President Barack Obama in his June
2009 address in Cairo, Egypt, a speech in which President Obama outlined a future-oriented,
“common ground” vision of world peace and prosperity:
All of us share this world but for a brief moment in time. The question is whether we
spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an
effort—a sustained effort—to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our
children, and to respect the dignity of all human beings…We know that is God’s vision.
Now, that must be our work here on Earth. 4
At a time when in many nations there is growing opposition to global engagement and
internationalism, Penn’s Fox Leadership International (FLI) is following in Franklin’s footsteps.
Not only in the G-7 nations 5 and in the BRICS nations 6 but throughout the world of nations, the
21st century’s present and future leaders in government, business, and other sectors must
find principled yet pragmatic paths to international peace, cooperation, and healthy
competition while meeting major civic challenges ranging from energy sustainability to
eldercare finance, environmental protection to economic opportunity.
From Beijing to Washington, D.C., there is no more important 21st century educational mission
than helping young adults to become international leaders who think globally, act locally,
Xi Jingping, “The People’s Wish for a Good Life is Our Goal,” speech at the press conference of the Standing
Committee of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee, November 12, 2012, as excerpted in Xi
Jingping, The Governance of China (Foreign Languages Press, 2014), p. 4.
3 Xi Jingping, as quoted in “Xi’s World Vision: A Community of Common Destiny,” Xinhua, January 15, 2017.
4 President Barck Obama, as quoted in National Catholic Reporter, “Obama Offers Spiritual Vision for Global
Peace,” June 4, 2009.
5 Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States
6 Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa
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and muster the grey matter, grit, and goodness to meet such challenges in ways that are at
once admirably ethical and measurably effective.
Thus, FLI’s core mission is to help equip and empower Penn students, alumni, and others to
learn about global leadership and problem-solving through study and live it out through service.
That mission is shared widely within Penn’s School of Arts and Sciences (SAS).
In the summers of 2014, 2015, and 2016, FLI and the SAS College of Liberal and Professional
Studies (LPS) developed, designed, and delivered 2-week to 4-week, residential, non-degree
Global Leadership and Problem-Solving (GLPS) programs. These programs had a grand total of
more than 150 Chinese national undergraduates drawn from dozens of Chinese universities.
The students did substantial reading as well as graded individual and small-group writing
assignments, independent research, field visits, and oral presentations; interacted in special
sessions with top U.S. and Chinese leaders (often over meals); toured key sites in Philadelphia
and other cities; and more.
As summer 2017 approaches, FLI and LPS faculty members, affiliates, and staff colleagues feel
well-prepared and are highly motivated to continue, expand, and improve these highly successful
GLPS programs. Below is the preliminary schedule for the academic and “outside the
classroom” portion of the two-week GLPS for summer 2017.
WEEK 1
Monday, July 24
Global Leadership: Theory, Practice, and Purpose
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Leading America/China: Cross-Cultural Definitions, Differences, and Similarities
The Social Science of Leadership/The Personal Craft of Leadership
5, 4, 3, 2, 1: Five Traits, Four Incentives, Three “Likes,” Two Goals, and One Purpose
“Collaborative Leadership” and Problem-Solving Through Partnerships
o Focus Group Discussions/Interactions: “Can You Lead Like Abe Lincoln?”
Tuesday, July 25
A Primer on American Government, Society, and Leadership
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America’s “Locke-anchored” Civic and Social Culture (What Would Confucius Say?)
America’s “Tudor” Political System, Then and Now
How “Big Government” in America Really Works (or Doesn’t!)
The Five Biggest Leadership Challenges Facing America, Now to 2050
o Focus Group Discussions/Interactions: “What Would You Tell Congress?”
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GLPS Leadership Dinner and Discussion—“Is American Government Broken?”: Students join
several prominent U.S. leaders: The Hon. John M. Bridgeland, the Hon. Mayor W. Wilson
Goode, Sr., The Hon. Marjorie Margolies, and the Hon. Bruce M. Reed (Invited)
Wednesday, July 26
Leadership Case I: Food Security and Anti-Hunger Policy in Global Perspective
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Leadership and Food Security: Incentives, Institutions, and International Bodies
Leadership Successes, Failures, and Lessons Learned—or Spurned
The State of Food Security in America/China
o Focus Group Discussions/Interactions: “Can America/China Eradicate Hunger?”
Thursday, July 27
Outside the Classroom: How America Feeds Needy Children When School is Out
On-campus and Off-campus meetings and site visits in the Philadelphia region with American
students, scholars, citizen-volunteers, religious and community leaders, and federal, state, or
local government officials involved in various efforts to promote food security
GLPS Leadership Dinner and Discussion—Can America/China Make Real Progress on
Environmental Protection and Energy Sustainability? Students join several prominent U.S.
leaders including Dr. Mark Alan Hughes, Dr. M.T. Cooke, and others (Invited)
Friday, July 28
Leadership Case II: Water Management Policy in Global Perspective
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Leadership and Water Management: Incentives, Institutions, and International Bodies
Leadership Successes, Failures, and Lessons Learned—or Spurned
The State of Water Management in America/China
o Focus Group Discussions/Interactions: “Can America/China Avert the Next
Water Crisis?”
WEEKEND
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Saturday, July 29: Excursion to Washington, D.C.
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Sunday, July 30: Free Day
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WEEK 2
Monday, July 31
Leadership Case III: Schooling and Education Reform in Global Perspective
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Leadership and Education Reform: Incentives, Institutions, and International Bodies
Leadership Successes, Failures, and Lessons Learned—or Spurned
The State of Education Reform in America/China
o Focus Group Discussions/Interactions: “Can America/China Learn Educational
Best Practices from Each Other?”
Tuesday, August 1
Leadership Case IV: The Eldercare Crisis in America/China, Part I
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The Eldercare Crisis in America/China: Demographic, Medical, Social, Financial, and
Governmental/Public Policy Dimensions
How American/Chinese Leaders Have Handled the Crisis
An American Problem-Solving Idea for China: Community-Based “PACE”
A Chinese Problem-Solving Idea for America: “Colleges” for the Elderly
o Focus Group Discussions/Interactions: “Is ‘filial piety’ part of the solution—or
part of the problem—in addressing eldercare issues in America/China?”
Wednesday, August 2
Outside the Classroom: Reserved Day for Study, Research, Service, Field Trips
GLPS Leadership Dinner and Discussion—Can America/China Make Real Progress on
“Healthy Aging”—When and How? Students join several prominent U.S. leaders including Penn
School of Nursing Science experts and others (Invited)
Thursday, August 3
Leadership Case IV: The Eldercare Crisis in America/China, Part II
• Student Oral Presentations, Individual Papers, and Group Proposals
• Facilitated Focus Group Sessions: “How Would You Lead on China’s Eldercare Crisis?”
GLPS “Commencement” Dinner and Special Musical Performances: “Go with All Your Heart!”
Friday, August 4
Global Leadership Revisited: China, America, and the Future of China-U.S. Relations
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A Concluding Plenary Panel Featuring Leading American and Chinese Scholars
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Summer 2017 GLPS Faculty Affiliates, Senior Fellows, and Senior Staff: Preliminary Lists
Profiles of all but a few of the following may be accessed at www.foxleadership.upenn.edu
GLPS Co-Chairpersons:
John DiIulio, Chairperson (School of Arts and Sciences –Fox Leadership International)
Nora Lewis (School of Arts and Sciences-College of Liberal and Professional Studies)
GLPS Standing Faculty Committee
Christine Bradway (School of Nursing Science)
Ram Cnaan (School of Social Policy and Practice)
Avery Goldstein (School of Arts and Sciences -Political Science)
Chao Guo (School of Social Policy and Practice)
Femida Handy (School of Social Policy and Practice)
Michael Horowitz (School of Arts and Sciences-Political Science)
Mark Alan Hughes (School of Design)
GLPS Advising/Administrative Support (School of Arts and Sciences unless otherwise noted)
Chuck Brutsche
Euria Chung
Bingqing Meng
Rita McGlone
Amy Nichols
Zhe “Zoe” Qiao (Wharton)
Joseph Tierney
Cheng Yao
GLPS Non-Penn Faculty/Staff Affiliates
Daniel Curran, University of Dayton China Institute, Suzhou
M.T. Cooke, China Partnership of Greater Philadelphia
Ferdous Jahan, University of Dhaka