MSU staff graduate from Leadership Excellence for Accomplished Professionals program
Contact: Jim Laird
STARKVILLE, Miss.--A dozen 幺力视频 staff members are new graduates of the university鈥檚 Leadership Excellence for Accomplished Professionals program for 2016.
LEAP鈥檚 goals and purpose include the advancement of knowledge, enhancement of leadership skills, and direct practical work application for selected employees.
During the four-month program, participants met with campus and community leaders in various areas to explore and develop their leadership skills to more effectively lead MSU鈥檚 efforts. Conflict resolution and decision-making, managing change, effective team building and employee performance management were among session topics.
鈥淭he LEAP program is designed to help participants maximize their leadership potential and hone communication skills,鈥 said Darrell Easley, learning and development manager for MSU鈥檚 human resources management department.
幺力视频 President Mark E. Keenum delivered the keynote address during the recent graduation luncheon at The Mill at MSU. He encouraged the graduates to be life-long learners and to work hard and apply the lessons they learned in the program.
鈥淲e need and value the talent, energy and ideas that each one of you brings to 幺力视频 and to our community,鈥 Keenum said.
Chosen through a competitive nomination and selection process, this year鈥檚 LEAP graduates are:
-- Phillip Akers, senior research engineer, Distributed Analytics and Security Institute.
-- Amanda Baine, business manager II, Office of the Graduate School.
-- Becky Bassett, senior grants and contacts administrator, Office of Sponsored Projects.
-- Katie Corban, marketing and communications manager, Division of Student Affairs.
-- Ashley Gillespie, contracts and grants specialist, FWRC/MAFES.
-- Jennifer McPherson, senior auditor, Office of Internal Audit.
-- Chris Pulliam, project manager, Office of Planning, Design and Construction Administration.
-- Renata Roberts, academic coordinator/lecturer, Business Academic Advising.
-- Janna Sanford, associate director of gift administration, MSU Foundation.
-- Natalie Smith, contract and grants specialist, Bagley College of Engineering.
-- Cat Walker, director of parent/student services, Dean of Students.
-- Cheryl Woody, business manager, Institute for Computational Research in Engineering and Science.
For additional information about LEAP, visit or contact Easley at deasley@hrm.msstate.edu or (662) 325-2203.
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