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Twelve Campus Supervisors Graduate from ‘Essentials of Management’ Program
Twelve campus supervisors recently completed the “UMass Amherst Leadership Academy: Essentials of Management” program. Over two months this first cohort, representing a variety of departments, participated in a multi-modal learning program which included two days of in-person training, six Moodle online courses and a final group presentation. “The Essentials of Management” program is the second tier of development in the Leadership Academy that expands the skill level of individuals who have two or more years of supervisory experience. The program’s instructors were Margaret Arsenault, Paul Papierski and Melissa Scheid Frantz from Workplace Learning and Development.
This cohort was made up of Ilona Trousdale, department of mathematics and statistics, Adrian Grace; College of Social & Behavioral Sciences; Jennifer Meunier, Isenberg graduate programs; Joseph Hession, administration and finance information technology; Stephanie Flaherty, annual giving; Joseph Pasquini, School of Public Health and Health Sciences; Megan Hoyo, alumni relations; Robert Skalbite, Center for Agriculture; Food and the Environment; Sarah Robinson, Donahue Institute; Thomas Peckenpaugh, residence education; Miranda Rowe, auxiliary enterprises; and Dominick Usher, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
“I was continually led to think about my own supervisory situations, contexts and behaviors. I became specifically aware of some blind spots and weaknesses in my supervision, but the training empowered me to acknowledge these weaknesses and accept the challenges of improving in these areas. The principles and techniques I learned in this training are helping me to step aside from total immersion in the demands of my job and approach my role as a supervisor from a more objective and informed perspective.” said Ilona Trousdale, director of administration and staff in the department of mathematics and statistics.
The UMass Amherst Leadership Academy expands the effectiveness of supervisors, managers and leaders to strengthen their capacity to build a community of choice by aligning the university’s values and mission with a successful practice of managing people, building relationships and driving results. The Leadership Academy is comprised of three programs that support current supervisors and managers at various levels providing a framework for leadership development that focuses on employee success with effective supervisory behaviors for the achievement of position, unit and university goals.
A valuable component of the program is establishing a cohort of peers from across the university to learn from one another, problem-solve together and to build a network of support and resources.
Applications for future program sessions are being accepted on a rolling basis for “Foundations of Supervision” and “Essentials of Management” programs. Visit the Leadership Academy to learn more.