THE POWER OFLEADERSHIP

Leadership Johnson County at Franklin College has transitioned to an independent entity after 30 years of affiliation with Franklin College. Now to be known simply as Leadership Johnson County (LJC), it is a self-sustaining 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

“Franklin College is enormously proud to have been the birthplace of Leadership Johnson County, thanks primarily to the leadership of Professor Emerita Bonnie Pribush and others who envisioned this community extension of the College’s innovative leadership curriculum,” said Franklin College President Kerry N. Prather. “The organization’s incredible growth and impact throughout Johnson County have led to its interest in establishing independent status. Franklin College will continue to proudly support LJC’s impactful work enhancing the education and experience of community leaders.”

Tim Thurston, president of the LJC board of directors, said, “We deeply respect the 30-year history with Franklin College and will honor that legacy. We look forward to the next 30 years as LJC continues its path in this vibrant community.”

Thurston noted that all LJC programming will continue as usual moving forward.

Leadership Johnson County was created in 1993 with seed money provided by Public Service Indiana/Cinergy, now Duke Energy. After conducting a community survey the previous year, they discovered that a major concern of Johnson County residents was future leadership. Representatives of the company approached Franklin College and suggested it undertake a community leadership program. The college agreed, housed the program and appointed Franklin College Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science Bonnie Pribush, now professor emerita, as its first program director. Pribush built the LJC at Franklin College program and led it for decades.

Still today LJC serves as an opportunity for citizens of Johnson County to come together to learn about the county, develop individual leadership styles, and make an investment in the future of their community. LJC will begin its 31st program year in fall 2024 with more than 40 participants. Those participants will join the nearly 900 previous graduates.

LJC will relocate to office space within the Habitat for Humanity of Johnson County facility located in New Whiteland. An open house will be announced at a later date.