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Discover Your Leadership Potential: The UF Academy
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Discover Your Leadership Potential: UF Academy
UF Training and Organizational Development is pleased to announce the 2009-2010 UF Academy class. This year's program runs from October through June 2010.
Congratulations to the following employees selected to participate:
- Dianna Brook Covington, Accounting Coordinator, Purchasing and Disbursement Services
- Lauren Pasquarella Daley, Associate Director for Career Development, Career Resource Center/Student Affairs
- Christopher Easley, ERP Infrastructure Manager, Computing and Networking Services
- Lynda Fender Hayes, University School Professor, PK Yonge Developmental Research School
- Joseph Mandernach, Director of Development, IFAS Development Office
- Brook Mercier, Employee Relations Manager, Human Resource Services
- Michael Richards, Assistant Director, College of Medicine, Dean’s Office
- Uma Sethuram, Accounting Coordinator, Office of the VP for Research
- Grace Strawn, Accounting Coordinator, Smathers Libraries
- Julie (Xiaohui) Wang, Budget Coordinator, CFO’s Office
- James Webb, Assistant Director, Medical/Health Admin, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Michael Weigold, Professor, Advertising, College of Journalism
- Alan West, Controller, UF Foundation
- Chris John Whitehurst, Accounting Coordinator, Physical Plant Division
The Emerging Leader: The UF Academy
Designed for emerging leaders at our institution, the UF Academy is a 9-month program that provides a UF-specific approach for up to 15 recognized star achievers who are “emerging leaders” at our institution. Participants are selected via a competitive application process. Entering its seventh year, the UF Academy (formerly the Finance and Administration Academy) focuses on immersion in the university culture and exposure to its organizational structure.
To participate in the Academy, an employee must be exempt with at least two years of supervisory or decision-making responsibility at the University of Florida and meet the additional criteria described below. Employees at the assistant director level and above as well as interested faculty members with fewer than two years at the university also may apply to participate.
Program Structure and Content
In this 9-month program, participants will meet with various representatives from the university and Gainesville communities. Typically, Academy members meet with the university president, UF vice presidents, and other key UF leaders. They travel to Tallahassee to meet with key legislators.
Part of the program includes self-development—both a reading group to discuss relevant issues related to effective leadership as well as an all-day “Leadership Foundations” workshop. Job shadowing, observing key meetings, and other interactive activities round out the experience.
Additionally, members of the participant group will be responsible for scheduling the identified meetings as part of their Academy experience—to include coordinating among the group for acceptable dates, times, and locations. This responsibility typically will rotate among group members, with assistance from the Academy Director, Dr. Bob Parks (bob-parks@ufl.edu).
Expected Outcomes
- To develop future managers at the University of Florida by increasing participants' knowledge of our university as a whole
- Provide future leaders with skills and tools to more effectively manage and lead people
- Inspire participants and influence greater commitment and loyalty to UF
- Reinforce Human Resource Services’ mission to "retain and develop world-class faculty and staff"
The UF Academy is designed to prepare participants for higher-level responsibilities at the University of Florida. Participation, however, is not a guarantee of future promotional opportunities. Instead, the Academy is a training and leadership tool.
Benefits to Participants
- An increased understanding of high-level issues that affect the University of Florida—managerial, legal, academic, community—as well as an increased understanding of the governance processes and systems in place on our campus
- A better appreciation of the relationship between administrative and academic units on campus. This will be enhanced by networking and teamwork experienced by the participants
- Opportunity to develop key leadership and managerial skills
Expectations of Participants
In general, participants must be:
- Goal-oriented
- Willing to assume responsibility for their own growth and development
- Actively engaged in seeking challenging assignments and greater responsibility
Participants will be responsible for:
- Attending all scheduled meetings—or making alternative scheduling arrangements when conflicts are unavoidable
- Actively participating in those meetings
- Completing assignments between meetings
Participant Criteria
Candidates for the UF Academy must meet the following criteria (at a minimum):
- Supervisory support
- Satisfactory performance reviews and attendance records
- Two years in a supervisory or decision-making role at the University of Florida*
- An exempt employee up to and including the assistant director level
*Employees at the assistant director level as well as faculty members may apply prior to having two years of experience at UF.
Nomination Process
Eligible candidates apply by application, which includes a letter of interest and supporting documentation.
Questions? Please contact Dr. Bob Parks, Assistant Director for UF Training and Organizational Development and UF Academy Director, at bob-parks@ufl.edu, (352) 392-4626.