The California City Management Foundation (CCMF) is pleased to award Ken Striplin the first of three $5,000 Harvard Leadership Program Scholarships.
Ken Striplin earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration from California State University, Northridge. He went on to earn his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University.
Having lived in and served the city of Santa Clarita for two decades, Ken has filled the roles of Personnel Officer, Assistant City Manager, and current City Manager. As the City’s third-ever City Manager, his dedication to the city management profession is evident. In 2008, he received the John H. Nail Award for outstanding Assistant City Manager by the City Managers Department of the League of California Cities. Additionally, he helped Santa Clarita earn the League’s 2012 Helen Putnam award in recognition of its Neighborhood Services Team and Outreach Program.
This scholarship is open to active CCMF members who have been accepted to the Harvard Kennedy School’s “Leadership Decision Making: Optimizing Organizational Performance” program. You can learn more about how to apply at cacitymanagers.org/harvard-scholarship. The Leadership Decision Making program focuses on designing environments that help reduce bias and inaccuracy in order to make the overall team and organization smarter. Grounded in theories and evidence from psychology, behavioral economics, and neuroscience, the program teaches leaders to answer tough questions, improve the accuracy of estimates, and more effectively structure negotiations.
“Ken’s experience in leadership and service to his community make him an outstanding recipient for this scholarship,” said CCMF President Wade McKinney. “This program awards those who demonstrate sharp decision-making skills alongside a clear willingness to continue learning. We are proud to present this scholarship to him.”
On behalf of us here at CCMF, congratulations to Ken!