Pitt's Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership to Present Inaugural Lecture of Exemplary Leadership Series April 2

PITTSBURGH-Coleen Rowley, former FBI agent and chief division counsel at the FBI's Minneapolis office, will give the inaugural Lecture of Exemplary Leadership-sponsored by Pitt's Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership-at 3:30 p.m. April 2 in the Pittsburgh Athletic Association Ballroom, 4215 Fifth Ave., Oakland. Rowley's lecture, titled "Exemplary Leadership: Always Do Right," will discuss the merits of ethics in leadership. A reception will follow.

In May 2002, Rowley brought to light some of the FBI's pre-9/11 lapses in the investigation of Zacarias Moussaoui. The 9/11 Commission subsequently described the situation as an "Al Qaeda mistake and missed opportunity," because an investigation of Moussaoui may have led the FBI to the Al Qaeda plot that destroyed the World Trade Center.

In June 2002, Rowley testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee about some of the endemic problems faced by the FBI and the intelligence community. In April 2003, following an unsuccessful attempt to warn the director and other administration officials about the pitfalls of launching an invasion of Iraq, she stepped down from her position as chief division counsel and returned to being an FBI Special Agent. She is now retired from the FBI and writes for "The Huffington Post."

Rowley was one of three whistleblowers chosen as "Time Magazine's" Person of the Year in 2002.

The Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership, part of Pitt's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, is presenting the Exemplary Leadership Series to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of highly effective leaders who exemplify the values of accountability, ethics, and responsibility. In addition to the annual lecture, the Johnson Institute will build a library of leadership case studies featuring speakers from the annual lectures that can be used as a teaching and research tool for students and faculty.

The event is free and open to the public, but prior registration is requested. Call the Johnson Institute at 412-628-1336 or send an e-mail to ethics@gspia.pitt.edu to register or for more information.

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3/25/09/tmw