Ten employees selected for seventh cohort of Women’s Staff Leadership Institute

A new cohort of women staff members has been selected to participate in the Women’s Staff Leadership Institute for 2024.

The program, launched in 2017 by UGA University Human Resources with support of the Office of the President, has run annually since its inception.

The Women’s Staff Leadership Institute is administered through University Human Resources’ Learning and Development. The program is supported by executive sponsor Jennifer L. Frum, vice president for public service and outreach, and is facilitated by Emily Saunders, UGA J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development public service faculty member.

“Leadership development is integral to organizational success,” said Juanita Hicks, vice president of human resources. “As we welcome a new cohort, we look forward to providing Institute members with opportunities to develop their leadership skills, expand their professional networks, and explore new horizons for professional growth.”

“Advancing leadership opportunities for our women staff enriches the entire university,” said Frum. “The Women’s Staff Leadership Institute nurtures future leaders who will drive the university’s success and impact. I am grateful for the continued support from UGA leadership and their unwavering commitment to staff development.”

The 2024 cohort begins Aug. 28 and runs through March, with participants meeting monthly for workshops and discussions.

The members of the 2024 class are:

Shari Crandall, director of residential program and services in University Housing. With over 15 years of experience in university housing, Crandall has made significant contributions to shaping the residential experience for students. She’s been in her role since 2021 and also brings experience in multicultural affairs, leadership and service, and assessment for student affairs. Crandall holds a doctorate in higher education from the University of Florida, a master’s degree in higher education from Florida State University and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Ching-Yu Huang, associate director for active learning initiatives at the Center for Teaching and Learning. Huang oversees the development and implementation of active learning instructional development programming to build a culture of active learning in teaching and learning at UGA. Huang received her Ph.D. in soil ecology from the Odum School of Ecology at UGA in 2008 and conducted her postdoctoral research at the University of California at Santa Cruz. She has taught intro- and upper-level of biology courses in a variety of formats (i.e., in-person, online, hybrid, small and large lectures). With 14 years of teaching experience, she specializes in active learning, educational technology and inclusive teaching. Prior to joining UGA in 2022, Huang was an assistant professor of biology at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she also served as Provost’s Faculty Fellow for Inclusive Teaching during 2019-2021.

Cassie Ann Kiggen, chief communications officer for the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) and UGA Cooperative Extension. As a member of the CAES executive leadership team, Kiggen is responsible for developing and implementing internal and external strategic communication plans for CAES as well as for UGA Cooperative Extension’s 159 county offices. She oversees the CAES brand content strategy and leads multimedia marketing campaigns to amplify the research, teaching and outreach efforts of the college. She manages a dynamic team of communications and public relations professionals who are responsible for producing and deploying creative storytelling opportunities to best showcase CAES’ global impact to key stakeholders. Kiggen graduated from the University of Georgia Morehead Honors College with bachelor’s degrees in both international affairs and Spanish. She completed her M.A. in international communications with specializations in strategic communications and intercultural leadership at the School of International Service at American University.

Nicole Moon, assistant bursar for student account services and accounts receivable. Moon joined the University of Georgia in 2004 and has remained within the Bursar and Treasury Services Division for over 19 years. In her current role, she is responsible for overseeing the accounting and operations functions within Student Account Services and Accounts Receivable, including the receivables cycle for students and non-students, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and University System of Georgia regulations and policies regarding financial aid and accounts receivable, business process improvements, reporting requirements and data analysis. Moon leads a team of 19 highly skilled accounting professionals and paraprofessionals. She serves as the Accounts Receivable Lead and Banner Accounts Receivable subject matter expert on the UGA Student Operational Team. She is a member of the UGA Student Accounts Advisory Board, USG Regents Advisory Committee on Accounts Receivable, USG Purge Reporting Subcommittee, and USG Fee Proration Subcommittee. Moon holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting and is seeking her CPA license.

Takenya Moore, assistant director of faculty affairs operations in the Office of Faculty Affairs. Moore began that role in May and manages faculty appointment processes, fosters partnerships with faculty affairs liaisons in hiring and appointment units across campus, and is instrumental in developing new processes and enhancing current procedures for the appointment of faculty. She works closely with the director of operations and associate provost for faculty affairs on policy, procedures and compliance-related matters. Moore began working at UGA in 2019 and previously served as the human resources manager at the Mary Frances Early College of Education, where she provided guidance and support to faculty and staff on personnel matters, promotion procedures and workforce planning and recruitment.

Brittany Rider, director of parent giving in the Division of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR). Rider has been a member of DAR for nine years, beginning as a stewardship coordinator in the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations before transitioning to working closely with the Georgia Commitment Scholarship Program. She joined the Parent Giving team in 2020 as a major gift officer. Rider has also served as an academic advisor in the Mary Frances Early College of Education and as a graduate assistant for sports communications with the UGA Athletic Association. Rider earned a Bachelor of Science degree in health and exercise science from Wake Forest University and a Master of Science in kinesiology from the University of Georgia.

Lindsay Robinson, assistant director for design in the Division of Marketing and Communications. Robinson joined the university in 2006 as a design intern and now leads an expert team of graphic designers dedicated to elevating UGA’s marketing and communications initiatives. She spearheads the conceptualization, design and production of an array of print and digital materials, striving to advance the university’s strategic goals through compelling visual storytelling. In addition to managing brand guidelines and creative content for UGA’s Division of Marketing & Communications and multiple units across campus, Robinson is the lead designer for the university’s flagship alumni publication, Georgia Magazine. Robinson is also a “Triple Dawg” with an M.A. in emerging media, M.P.A., and A.B.J. in public relations.

Shelly Terrazas, director of finance and human resources in the Office of Research. Terrazas joined the university in 2018, serving as director of finance and administration in the School of Public and International Affairs. Terrazas has served in her current role since 2022. Her responsibilities include fiscal affairs oversight, budget development, operational and strategic process improvement, and human resources management for the unit. Prior to joining UGA, Terrazas held positions at Emory University, The Carter Center and Georgia Tech where she worked in international program development, specializing in public health interventions. She earned an M.B.A. with a concentration in healthcare administration from Georgia State University, an M.S. in international affairs at Georgia Tech, and a B.A. in international relations from Centre College.

Olivia Holt Williams, licensed veterinary technician and director of nursing at the University of Georgia’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Williams earned a degree in veterinary technology from Columbus State Community College. After graduation, she began her career as an equine ICU/ emergency critical care nurse at the Galbreath Equine Center at The Ohio State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. She was promoted to service coordinator in 2007; a position she held until 2013 when she moved to Athens. In 2015, she joined the Veterinary Teaching Hospital full-time as the large animal nursing supervisor. In 2019, she began her current role, overseeing a staff of approximately 200 veterinary professionals who are responsible for more than 35,000 patient episodes per year. Additionally, she manages hospital operations related to patient care and safety and represents the nursing staff on the hospital board.

Jennifer Willis, administrative financial manager for the Archway Partnership. Willis began her career at UGA in 2008 working with the Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel as a senior accounting technician and later advanced into the role of business manager. She has served in her current role with the Archway Partnership since 2021 and is responsible for the business and financial operations for the department in the areas of human resources, payroll, budgeting, accounting and purchasing. She also serves on the department’s leadership team and the unit’s business affairs team. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Albany State University and obtained a master’s in business administration from Georgia Southern University. Additionally, Willis began the final year of the College Business Management Institute offered by the Southern Association of College and University Business officers (SACUBO) in July.