Professor of Psychology and Natural Sciences Helen Meldrum recently brought two experienced business leaders from Harvard Medical School's Institute of Coaching to speak to her Counseling and Coaching Methods course, bridging the gap between classroom learning and real world application. The Institute of Coaching is housed at McLean Hospital, located less than a mile from the Bentley campus, and is dedicated to advancing coaching research, education and practice. Coaching is defined as a change process that mobilizes strengths and realizes the potential of individuals and organizations.

The students in Professor Meldrum's class heard from Joan Rosenberg Ryan, J.D. an internationally-recognized expert in negotiation, conflict resolution and mediation skills as well as stress and reactivity-reduction techniques, and Dick Heller, a consultant and trainer with an emphasis on issues of management, leadership and organizational excellence.

The speakers addressed how they are working to build a global coaching research community in order to accelerate coaching research progress and disseminate best practices. Bentley students in attendance were thoroughly engaged and reported that they enjoyed seeing firsthand how principles learned in their class are applied in a real world setting. Speakers from the Institute  offered the students the opportunity to do evidence-based research directly with them, if interested. Professor Meldrum looks forward to continuing a productive relationship with the Institute of Coaching so that the Bentley community can continue to benefit from the unique expertise located in its backyard.