(posted on February 10, 2010)
Dr. Cindy Elsberry, Superintendent of Horry County Schools, will be one of three panelists to discuss “The Challenges of Leadership in the 21st Century” during Coastal Carolina University’s 2010 Celebration of Inquiry. This special session on leadership will be held on Friday, February 19, at the Wall Auditorium, from 10:30 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.
Elsberry will be joined by Dr. David DeCenzo, President of Coastal Carolina University (CCU), and David Bennett, head coach of CCU’s football program. This session will explore the construct of leadership, new challenges for leaders, leadership theory, and the actual practice of leadership. There will be an opportunity for questions and answers. The session on leadership is sponsored by the Educational Leadership Program of the William E. Spadoni College of Education and CCU’s Celebration of Inquiry.
About the panelists…
Elsberry is the Superintendent of Horry County Schools and is the educational leader of a district encompassing approximately 38,000 students and 5,400 staff. She earned a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education and a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Alabama. Elsberry came to Horry County from Talladega County Schools (Alabama) where she was the Superintendent for six years. She has held teaching and educational administrative positions in Alabama and Georgia, has been an adjunct professor at the University of Alabama, and belongs to the Schlechty Center Superintendent Network.
DeCenzo joined CCU’s administration in 2002 when he was named dean of the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration. He was named provost in May 2006. Before joining the Coastal faculty, DeCenzo served as director of partnership development in the College of Business and Economics at Towson University in Maryland. Under DeCenzo’s leadership, Coastal has experienced unprecedented growth.
Bennett is the first and only head coach of CCU’s football program. A 1984 graduate of Presbyterian College, Coach Bennett lettered in football and golf while earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and social studies with a minor in coaching. Bennett earned his master's degree in guidance and counseling in 1986 from Clemson University, where he worked with the running backs on the Tigers' 1986 ACC Championship squad.