G. Bryan Fleming has been tapped by the Bush Foundation to serve as its leadership programs director. In this role, Fleming will run the Foundation’s Bush Fellowship and Leadership Network Grants programs.
As director of admissions for The Blake School, a preK-12 independent school in metro Minneapolis where he has worked since 2000, and through his career as a music educator and school administrator, Fleming has developed an eye and ear for recognizing excellence and potential. These skills will translate well to his work with the Bush Foundation, according to President Jen Ford Reedy.
“Bryan is a true expert at spotting potential in people—especially those who may not always shine by conventional standards,” Reedy said. “This is a huge part of what our leadership work is about, and we are excited to have Bryan leading and shaping our programs.”
Since 1965, the Bush Foundation has worked to develop the leadership capacity of the region by making investments in more than 2,200 Bush Fellows. The $100,000 Bush Fellowship is distinctive in its flexibility, allowing Fellows to articulate what they need to become a better leader—whether through a self-designed learning experience, an academic program or a combination of both.
“The chance to direct the Bush Fellowship Program is an amazing opportunity,” said Fleming. “In my new role, I’ll work with Fellows to ensure they’re equipped to reach and maximize their leadership potential, and then help them connect to networks that can fuel that potential.”
The timing is good for Fleming’s arrival. The Foundation will begin accepting applications for 2015 Bush Fellows on July 29. It is also in the process of selecting the inaugural recipients of its Leadership Network Grants, which aim to improve access to leadership development programs that reflect the Foundation’s aspirations for the people of the region.
Fleming said, “Leadership Network Grants are a powerful tool in supporting the development of culturally agile leaders. As communities in the region become more diverse, we want to ensure that leaders have the attitudes, skills and knowledge necessary to appreciate and build on the opportunity that is cultural diversity.”
A California native, Fleming received an undergraduate degree in music education from the University of New Mexico. When a conference on gifted and talented education inspired him to expand his studies into a focus on giftedness among under-represented populations, he completed a master’s degree in education administration from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Fleming serves on the boards of a variety of community arts and human services organizations, including Children’s Theater Company, Friends of the Hennepin County Library and PACER Center. A lifelong musician who lives in Chanhassen, Minnesota, Bryan plays both trombone and piano, and he enjoys reading, golf, cycling and attending live music venues of any sort—especially The Dakota and Orchestra Hall!