Ten University of Georgia staff members have been selected to participate in the second cohort of the Women’s Staff Leadership Institute.
Launched in 2017, the WSLI is an annual program aligned with the Women’s Leadership Initiative launched in 2015 by President Jere W. Morehead and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Pamela Whitten.
The program is administered through the Office of Human Resources’ Training and Development with the support of executive sponsor Jennifer L. Frum, vice president for public service and outreach. Allie Cox, director of training and development, coordinates the institute.
“Developing the talents of our staff members and supporting women leaders at UGA strengthens the university as a whole,” said Frum. “When individuals grow their leadership abilities and make their fullest contributions in their careers here, we are better able to fulfill the mission of the university and serve the citizens of Georgia.”
Juan Jarrett, associate vice president for human resources, agrees.
“We hope that participants who graduate from the institute will use the skills they have acquired to guide their career choices and seek out opportunities offering greater responsibilities in higher education,” he said.
The cohort includes employees from seven units and three schools and colleges. The 2018 program runs from March to November. Participants will meet monthly to attend workshops and take part in discussions.
“The participants in this year’s cohort will learn from successful leaders and scholars across UGA and will have experiences that hone their leadership skills and abilities,” said Frum. “Equally important, they will learn from each other and create a support network as they progress in their careers at UGA. I hope they will take every advantage of this opportunity and share their learning with others.”
Members of the 2018 class are:
Angela Birkes, the alliance director for the Peach State Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation in the Office of Institutional Diversity. She joined UGA in 2010. She manages and oversees the alliance-wide activities for the program and provides fiscal management of the program budget and ensures that all reporting requirements are met.
Marti Brick, the director of external affairs at the College of Veterinary Medicine. At UGA since 2000, Brick is responsible for managing relationships with the college’s stakeholders. She drives communications, including partnering with constituents to create and implement communication strategies to convey positive positioning and initiatives.
Maria de Rocher, assistant director of the Honors Program. She is responsible for managing many of the enrichment programs and scholarships offered by the Honors Program, including summer internships, financial support for travel abroad, lecture series, book discussions and student organizations. At UGA since 2008, she also serves as the campus U.S. Student Fulbright Program advisor.
Kara Fresk, director of learning and strategic initiatives in the Division of Student Affairs. She came to UGA in 2009 as a doctoral candidate with a graduate assistantship and became a full-time employee in 2011. She is responsible for overseeing initiatives to improve the organizational effectiveness of the division, including management of strategic planning and reporting processes, coordination of data activities, implementation of the division’s student learning framework and administration of division-wide staff development activities.
Shannon Hinson, associate director of admissions and director of dual degree programs in the School of Law. Hinson assists in overseeing all phases of the admissions process for the Juris Doctor and M.S.L. programs, including marketing and recruitment, application review, decision making, notification and the awarding of academic scholarships. As the director of dual degree programs, she helps develop new dual degree opportunities. She joined UGA in 2014.
Meg Mittelstadt, assistant director for faculty development and recognition in the Center for Teaching and Learning. At UGA since 2017, Mittelstadt designs and implements educational development programs for faculty, with the goals of positively impacting student learning through the adoption of evidence-based teaching practices and increasing the likelihood of faculty career success and efficacy in the classroom. She is the program director for UGA’s Faculty Learning Communities, several faculty fellows programs and the CTL workshop and seminar series.
Lindsey Van Note, senior director for human resources strategic management and special projects in the Office of Human Resources. At UGA since 2005, she provides leadership and support for HR’s long-term business goals and outcomes. She provides direction for the University Search Group, Staff Recruitment & Hiring, Classification & Position Management, HR Faculty Support, Onboarding & Records, HR Systems and HR Data & Reporting.
Nakia Wade, human resources senior manager in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. A member of the college’s administrative leadership team, Wade advises the dean on all human resources-related matters. She provides guidance for department heads, directors and other supervisors in resolving employee relations matters and assists them on issues related to recruitment and selection, compensation and classification and training. She joined UGA in 2015.
Kristy Walker, associate director for business and human resources in University Housing. Walker, who joined UGA in 2008, is responsible for the administration of a $50 million operation budget, a capital budget and more than 700 part-time and full-time staff members to conduct the operations of a comprehensive and integrated housing and residential life organization.
Jana Wiggins, director of communications for the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, a public service and outreach unit. At UGA since 2016, Wiggins is responsible for the institute’s branding and messaging, marketing, public and media relations, publications, social media, online presence and special event planning. She leads a team of graphic designers, webmasters, copywriters and editors. They work with the Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach to highlight the institute’s impact across the state of Georgia.
“The 10 women selected for this outstanding program represent a broader effort to foster a culture of leadership, where individuals are empowered to think broadly about how they can advance the institution as a whole,” said Whitten. “They and their colleagues across our campuses play a vital role in making the University of Georgia one of the nation’s leading public universities.”
