The Joy of Learning: A Case Study of a Transformative Educator and Activist

Dr. Dorothy, “Dot,” Ettling was a contemplative practitioner, a spiritual leader, a scholar, and a mentor. She had the phenomenal ability to see the talents of others and enlist their aid in serving marginalized people, whether women walking miles for water in Africa or local mothers needing shelter and job skills. This learning leader recruited (or drafted) colleagues across disciplines to enable communities to build capacities through cross-cultural education and leadership development. This article will examine the work and legacy of Ettling through the lens of Learning as a Way of Leading, focusing on the task of creating community. Implications for practice from this case study of a transformative educator are identified.