The seventh cohort of the Women’s Staff Leadership Institute celebrated its graduation with a reception March 25.
“I want to say first, congratulations to all of you graduating,” said Stacy Jones, associate vice president for public service and outreach and WSLI co-sponsor. “I hope that as you continue to walk as graduates and alumnae of this program that you pay attention to the fact that you’re taking some amazing journeys.”
The WSLI, which began in 2017, is an annual program aligned with the Women’s Leadership Initiative launched in 2015 by the Office of the President and the Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost.
“Congratulations to each of you on this incredible milestone in your leadership journey. Your dedication, growth and commitment to this program has not only strengthened your own leadership but also enriched our organization,” said Juanita Hicks, vice president and Chief Human Resources Officer.
The program is administered through University Human Resources’ Learning and Development and facilitated by Emily Saunders, a public service faculty member in the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, a unit of UGA Public Service and Outreach.
“I want to thank you all for coming to celebrate our newest cohort of the Women’s Staff Leadership Institute and all of the learning and connecting they’ve done over the last eight months,” Saunders said. “Here we are, 10 years later, celebrating the amazing work of the program. Thank you for your continued support.”
The institute provides participants the chance to explore leadership opportunities, reflect upon key leadership skills, and support one another in issues that women leaders face in higher education administration.
“I don’t know what’s next, but this has been an invitation for me to dream and imagine what that might possibly be,” said 2024-2025 cohort member Shari Crandall, director of residential program and services in University Housing.
Ching-Yu Huang, associate director for active learning initiatives at the Center for Teaching and Learning and member of the 2024-2025 cohort, also shared what she gained from the experience.
“One of the most important things I’ll take away is that I feel like I’m myself and being authentic,” Huang said. “I feel like I found my own leadership style, and I’m comfortable with myself and certain about my presence in leadership.”
Fellow cohort member Takenya Moore, assistant director of faculty affairs operations in the Office of Faculty Affairs, echoed a similar sentiment.
“What I learned is that there is no set way for how to lead,” Moore said. “I had to learn to get comfortable with the way that I lead and be comfortable with myself.”
Additional members of the 2024-2025 cohort include Cassie Ann Kiggen, chief communications officer for the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and UGA Cooperative Extension; Nicole Moon, assistant bursar for student account services and accounts receivable in the Bursar and Treasury Services Division of Finance and Administration; Brittany Rider, chief of staff, Office of the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations; Lindsay Robinson, assistant director for design in the Division of Marketing and Communications; Shelly Terrazas, director of finance and human resources in the Office of Research; Olivia Holt Williams, licensed veterinary technician and director of nursing at the University of Georgia’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital; and Jennifer Willis, administrative financial manager for the Archway Partnership, a Public Service and Outreach unit.
“As you graduate from this cohort, remember that leadership is not just about position — it’s about impact, influence and the courage to pave the way for others. We celebrate your achievements today and look forward to the leadership you will continue to bring to the future,” Hicks said.
The 2024-2025 program ran from August 2024 through March 2025, and participants met monthly for workshops and discussions.
Find out more at https://hr.uga.edu/employees/training/WSLI/.
