Kroc Certificate Program continues to develop leaders
Kroc Centers present distinctive ministry opportunities to develop new models of organization and operation which require qualified and trained leaders. Responding to this need— with significant input from the National Kroc Center Committee—the Central Territory took the lead in developing the Kroc Leadership Certificate Program, designed for officers, including those serving at Kroc Centers or those interested in future opportunities in Kroc ministry or larger corps community centers, along with key Kroc employee leadership staff with potential for greater responsibilities.
This initiative was originally developed in 2017 in partnership with The Salvation Army’s Booth University College. Beginning in 2022, Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) has served as the educational partner in this significant endeavor, bringing it to a new level of academic credibility.
The Kroc Leadership Certificate Program is offered in a cohort structure and is available to students from across the U.S. Entering its seventh year, more than 150 people from the four territories have completed the program. It is comprised of four required courses (12 credit hours), utilizing delivery modes of intensive and online learning. It includes two hybrid courses, one with a concentration in leadership principles and practice and one with a concentration in operations and programs—including weeklong intensives at the Phoenix and Chicago Kroc centers.
Also included are two online courses covering specific practice content and a capstone assignment.
Cohort 7 in 2024 is comprised of 28 students from across the four U.S. territories. Nine are from the Central Territory. As in previous cohorts, the current roster includes a diverse cross-section of participants reflecting those served by Kroc Centers. This cohort includes 19 officers and nine employees.
“The Kroc Leadership Certificate Program has been a significant part of furthering participants’ onboarding and understanding of Kroc Center operations and ministry opportunities,” said Bram Roberts, Central territorial Kroc program & mission engagement manager who serves as a lead instructor for the first intensive course.
Lt. Colonel James Nauta, who coordinates this endeavor in post-retirement, added, “The excellence of Indiana Wesleyan University is unsurpassed and is well-suited to serve as the designated certifying academic institution for this initiative. As a fully accredited academic institution whose mission is completely compatible with the Army’s mission, IWU has built on and enhanced the program’s early successes.”
