Congratulations to the second graduating cohort of the SULead professional development program! Eleven SU staff members, representing a diverse cross section of campus, comprised the Fall 2023 cohort including: Logan Becker, budget analyst in the General Accounting Office; Ryan Bradshaw, identity and data security manager in the Information Technology department; Kelly Cowger, interim director, Guerrieri Student Union; Tammy Harris, program administrative specialist in the Fulton School Dean’s Office; Michelle Hirsch, executive administrative assistant in the Advancement Office; Jalesa Hull, assistant program director in the Disability Resource Center; Shannon James, assistant registrar in the Registrar’s Office; Brian Koehler, alumni engagement coordinator in the Alumni Relations Office; Angela Lookabill, academic program specialist in the Provost’s Office; Lisa Nowak, executive administrative assistant in the College of Health and Human Sciences Dean’s Office; and William Woodward, Sergeant, University Police Department.

The SULead program’s goal is to foster the engagement and development of talented, emerging staff leaders across campus, and is offered by Human Resources in partnership with the President’s Office. Held on Fridays throughout the fall semester, cohort members learned about each of SU’s divisions from members of the President’s Cabinet; interacted with many faculty and staff leaders; attended a community engagement session with SU President Carolyn Ringer Lepre, Salisbury Mayor Jack Heath, and Greater Salisbury Committee President and CEO Mike Dunn; and met with members of the University’s shared governance organizations.

In addition to gaining a better understanding of the innerworkings of SU, they also networked and built relationships through departmental tours across campus, learned about the challenges and opportunities facing higher education and participated in self-assessment activities to leverage their unique strengths for personal and professional development.

As their capstone project, participants engaged in group presentations giving recommendations to leadership on improving employee recognition, staff volunteering initiatives and expanding SU’s culture of inclusion and belonging on campus. In further support of SULead program goals, all 2023 program graduates will have an opportunity to participate in a staff mentoring pilot in 2024.

For more details on SULead and professional development resources at SU, please visit the Human Resources Professional Development page of the SU website.