First cohort completes UW Presidential Leadership Institute

Members of the first cohort of UW’s Presidential Leadership Institute will join President Ed Seidel at his home to celebrate the conclusion of their leadership experience. (UW photo)

The first cohort of the University of Wyoming’s Presidential Leadership Institute (PLI) has successfully completed the program.

This leadership development initiative is designed to equip UW staff members with skills to enhance their roles and strengthen UW’s supportive campus community. Over the course of five months, 25 university employees came together to take part in a series of immersive leadership sessions.

“The Presidential Leadership Institute gave me the opportunity to network with other leaders across the university and made me more aware of the specific challenges they face and their varied approaches to these challenges,” said Natalia Brown, program and business services manager for UW’s WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho) Medical Education Program and member of the first cohort. “I have now made new friends with whom I discovered I have so much in common, both professionally and personally.”

President Ed Seidel has emphasized the importance of building a strong leadership culture among UW’s workforce.

“Developing strong leaders within our own employees is one of the best investments we can make,” he says. “The success of the first cohort is a testament to the talent we have here at UW, and I am excited to see how the next group continues to grow and shape the future of our university.”

In addition to Brown, members of the first PLI cohort are:

–Cheryl Baker, UW Foundation information technology project manager.

— Maria Bennett, academic advising manager of the School of Pharmacy.

— Megan Candelaria, deputy director of the Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium.

— Dawn Carver, project coordinator-senior at the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing.

— Allison Cawvey, academic advising manager in the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources.

— Adam Comeau, student activities/programming coordinator for Campus Recreation.

— Andre Fecteau, Information Technology department, data and reporting manager.

— Carrie Gomez, UW-Casper program coordinator-senior.

— Jamie Greene, director of arrangement and description at the American Heritage Center.

— Tiffany Kautzsch, senior HR partner for employment and workforce.

— Dilnoza Khasilova, assessment specialist at the Ellbogen Center for Teaching and Learning.

— Jennifer Kirk, UW Libraries marketing and communications specialist.

— Sunnie Lew, UW Foundation content strategy manager for social, marketing and communications.

— Kristin Lewis, program coordinator-senior for MBA and professional graduate programs in the College of Business.

— Nichole Lumadue, senior project coordinator for the High Plains American Indian Research Institute.

— Richard Miller, director of the Center for Counseling and Career Services.

— Elizabeth Nysson, project director of the McNair Scholars Program in the Department of Research and Economic Development.

— Jessica Steward, UW-Casper senior program coordinator.

— Taylor Stuemky, associate athletic director for internal operations.

— Li Teng, academic advising manager of the Honors College.

— Shantel Utton, associate director of engineering and utilities management.

— Frankie Vogt, business manager of the School of Energy Resources.

— Elizabeth Wommack, curator in the Department of Zoology and Physiology.

— Judy Yates, School of Computing administrative assistant.

About the Presidential Leadership Institute

PLI directly supports UW’s Strategic Plan Objective 3: “Create a Supportive Community.” By equipping University staff with essential leadership tools, the program fosters a workforce that is both engaged and equipped to support the University’s mission. The skills acquired through PLI benefit participants’ personal career growth and contribute to the success of the university.

Designed for UW staff up to director level, PLI focuses on five areas: understanding your strengths; change management; leadership and relationships; communication; and stress and conflict management.

The program equips participants with the leadership, communication and conflict management skills essential for professional growth. More information is available here.