First cohort completes University Leadership program

Thirty faculty and staff completed University Leadership 2012, a seven-week program sponsored by Human Resources. The purpose of the program was to enhance emerging leaders at Grand Valley through a discussion of challenges confronting higher education and an examination of the values and goals that guide the university.

Participants were selected for the program and attended a five-hour workshop each week from January 10-February 21. The senior management team served as presenters, including President Thomas J. Haas and Provost Gayle Davis. Board of Trustees Chair Noreen Myers was also a presenter as well as faculty and staff members.

Topics for the workshops included higher education issues and trends, finance and fund raising, inclusion and equity, campus and student life and Grand Valley’s academic future.

“This is an important part of our leadership programming as it focuses on issues and trends unique to Grand Valley,” said Maggie McCrystal, director of Staff Relations for Human Resources. “For Grand Valley to continue to be a premier university and meet the needs of our students and community we will need talented leadership at all levels with the knowledge and skills to address issues we are facing and will continue to face.”

Scott Richardson, associate vice president for Human Resources said: “Participation in this program was a big commitment in time and effort on the part of the participants. We appreciate that they all helped make this program so successful.”

Richardson said the program will be an annual event. More information can be found at www.gvsu.edu/ulead.

Program participants were Ed Aboufadel, Dottie Barnes, Pam Brenzing, Bob Brown, Steeve Buckridge, Wendy Burns-Ardolino, Connie Dang, Corey DiCarlo, Jill Dooley, Steve Glass, Diane Green-Smith, Lisa Haynes, Chris Hendree, Simone Jonaitis, Bill Lucksted, Jeff Marcinkowski, Susan Mendoza, Walter Moore, Michelle Olmsted, Dave Poortvliet, Star Raymond, Michelle Rhodes, Carlos Rodriguez, Robert Smart, Dave Smith, Pat Smith, Paul Stansbie, Kathleen VanderVeen, Elaine VanDoren and Mike Wambach.