Ļć½¶Ö±²„

Contact: Carl Smith

STARKVILLE, Miss.ā€”A new class of 16 Mississippi State employees recently began a training program to help prepare them for future leadership roles.

The Leadership Development Programā€™s Class of 2023 features staff members from a variety of units and departments, from the Ļć½¶Ö±²„Foundation to the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences. These employees will meet nine times during the academic year to sharpen their skills through a variety of professional development sessions and team-building activities.

The LDP, a Ļć½¶Ö±²„Human Resources Management-led initiative, empowers new supervisors and high-performing employees with heightened self-awareness, advanced knowledge and value-added leadership. Eligible applicants include employees preparing for mid- to senior-level leadership roles; directing major tasks, projects and initiatives; and having at least one year of service in their current position and support of their dean, director or department head.

ā€œThe program offered a challenging and rewarding experience for my colleagues and me to grow as leaders. In addition to the program, I was finishing my masterā€™s, growing as a leader in the community and entering my 10th year at MSUā€™s National Strategic Planning and Analysis Research Center, making it a perfect time to learn about my leadership style,ā€ said nSPARC Research Program Manager Kara Herman, who also was one of 12 employees honored with a Donald W. Zacharias Distinguished Staff Award this spring. ā€œThe program taught authentic leadership, personality strengths and weaknesses and camaraderie.ā€

Members of the LDP Class of 2023 include:

ā€”Kevin Anderson, Web Development Services manager, Information Technology Services

ā€”Christina Childers, associate director, Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory

ā€”Paula Estes, employment services coordinator, Human Resources Management

ā€”Delaney Foster, associate director for planning and assessment initiatives, Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion

ā€”Alvin Franklin, assistant athletic director for development, Ļć½¶Ö±²„Athletics

ā€”Leah Gibson, marketing coordinator, Ļć½¶Ö±²„Online

ā€”Kenneth Graves, facilities manager, Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences

ā€”Lilli Harris, graduate student development coordinator, Ļć½¶Ö±²„Graduate School

ā€”Tockie Hemphill, project manager, Social Science Research Center

ā€”Joseph Iupe, director of finance and budget, Ļć½¶Ö±²„Foundation

ā€”Kimberly Peeples, assistant director, Student Counseling Services

ā€”Kayla Pineda, assessment coordinator, Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness

ā€”Blair Reed, research development specialist, Office of Research Development

ā€”David Saucier, research engineer, Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems

ā€”Kathi Smith, business coordinator, Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President

ā€”Erica Way, marketing manager, Ļć½¶Ö±²„Foundation

For more information, visitĀ .

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