Dr. Olga Martinez Hickman Selected as 2024 Presidential Leadership Scholar
Martinez Hickman joins a unique network of leaders making a difference in the world; scholars will learn from the presidential leadership examples of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson
Dr. Olga Martinez Hickman, Executive Director at Bachman Lake Together, is one of 60 Scholars who will form the Presidential Leadership Scholars’ (PLS) ninth class. For nearly a decade, PLS has served as a catalyst for a diverse network of leaders brought together to collaborate and create meaningful change in the United States and around the world as they learn about leadership through the lens of the presidential experiences of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson and their administrations.
The class was selected after a rigorous application and review process. Scholars were chosen based on their leadership growth potential and the strength of their personal leadership projects aimed at improving civic engagement or social good by addressing a problem or need in their community, the country, or the world.
As Executive Director of Bachman Lake Together, Dr. Olga Martinez Hickman supports cross-sector partnerships aimed at redesigning systems and strategies to enhance high-quality early childhood education for all children, regardless of background. She has more than two decades of relevant education and experience, including supporting statewide leadership, literacy and system-change initiatives. Her areas of expertise include equity and excellence, parent leadership and second language acquisition for diverse learners.
Dr. Martinez Hickman is a product of public education. She began her career as a classroom teacher and taught at the same elementary school she attended. Dr. Martinez Hickman earned her Ph.D. in K-16 Research, Policy, and Leadership from The University of Texas at Arlington.
“In my first encounter with the PLS Class of 2024, I immediately recognized that all our differences, from backgrounds to lived experiences, will create a common purpose. Learning with and from people that don’t always look, talk, or think like me, will push me to engage in crucial conversations, as I become a stronger leader,” says Martinez Hickman.
During the six-month program, Dr. Olga Martinez Hickman will develop her initiative focused on expanding Bachman Lake Together’s flagship leadership program. She hopes to leverage the experiences and expertise shared in her cohort to build a community asset model that centers community voice.
“On behalf of myself and the Board of Directors at Bachman Lake Together, I would like to express how proud we are of our Executive Director, Dr. Olga Hickman. She has been selected to participate in the prestigious Presidential Leadership Scholars program and will be highlighting BLT’s parent leadership program. This program will not only provide an enriching experience for Dr. Hickman, but it will also assist us as an organization to enrich our impact in the community,” says George Rodriguez, Chairman of Bachman Lake Together.
Over the course of the program, Scholars will travel to each participating presidential center to learn from key former administration officials, business and civic leaders, and leading academics. They will study and put into practice varying approaches to leadership and exchange ideas to help strengthen their impact in the communities they serve.
Scholars have consistently reported remarkable growth in skills, responsibilities, and opportunities for impact since the program began in 2015. For example, 91% of Scholars said their confidence in how they lead social change has improved as a result of the PLS program.
The 2024 program kicked off on Jan. 24 in Washington, D.C.
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About Presidential Leadership Scholars
The Presidential Leadership Scholars program is a partnership among the presidential centers of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson. To learn more, visit www.presidentialleadershipscholars.org. For updates about the Presidential Leadership Scholars, use #PLScholars and follow @PLSprogram on Twitter and Instagram.