Disha Joshi Named Tilelli Leadership Fellow at Widener University

2015 Dec 7

Disha Joshi of Philadelphia, Pa., a student in the joint clinical psychology doctorate and master of business administration program at Widener University, has been named the recipient of the General and Mrs. John H. Tilelli Leadership Fellowship.

Part of the Oskin Leadership Institute at Widener, the fellowship is awarded annually to select graduate students whose scholarly research will contribute to the university's enduring commitment to developing strategic leaders and responsible citizens. During the year-long fellowship, Joshi will work with Dr. Arthur Schwartz, executive director of the institute, on further developing the institute's Leadership Competition which began earlier this year between Widener and John Carroll University, and will expand to include teams from eight different colleges and universities in 2016.

"Disha's research interests in emotional intelligence and mindfulness and their relation to leadership development in addition to her practicum experience made her an excellence candidate for the Tilelli Fellowship," Schwartz said. "We are very pleased to add her to our team at the Oskin Leadership Institute."

During a practicum at Mindflex, LLC., Joshi created and facilitated the Leadership Academy Workshop at Breezy Point Day School in Langhorne, Pa. with Dr. Lee Picariello. The workshop provided children from ages 8 to 18 with leadership skills such as conflict management, creativity, mindfulness and resilience. She currently serves as a doctoral practicum student for Organizational Development Services, providing executive coaching services to undergraduate students in Widener's Presidential Service Corp/Bonner Leader Program.

Joshi serves as a class representative for the Student Forum in Widener's Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology. She earned a bachelor's degree from Franklin and Marshall College where she studied psychology and dance.

A member of the class of 1963 and chair of the Widener Board of Trustees, Tilelli is a retired four-star general who served two tours of duty in Vietnam and commanded the 1st Cavalry Division during the 1991 Gulf War.

The mission of the Oskin Leadership Institute is to perpetuate the university's long and noble tradition of inspiring students to be strategic leaders and responsible citizens who possess the character, courage and competencies to affect positive change throughout the world.

Widener University is a metropolitan university that connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention, leadership development and experiential learning are key components of the Widener experience. A comprehensive doctorate-granting university, Widener is comprised of eight schools and colleges that offer liberal arts and sciences, professional and pre-professional curricula leading to associate's, baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees. The university's campuses in Chester, Exton and Harrisburg, Pa., and Wilmington, Del., are proud to be a tobacco-free. Visit the university's website, www.widener.edu.