Contact: Jim Laird
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Fourteen Mississippi State staff members are participating in the university's 2013 Learning Experience for Aspiring Professionals program.
Gathering recently for the first time, they were congratulated and welcomed by Provost and Executive Vice President Jerry Gilbert. He also provided them with an overview of the program goals and expectations.
Over the next nine months, members will be meeting with a variety of campus and community leaders and representatives to discuss, explore and understand the current and future goals and priorities of the 135-year-old land-grant institution and its departments.
University operations, building effective teams, managing employee performance, building relationships and influence, and strategic thinking are among the topics covered at the sessions.
A LEAP graduation presentation and reception will be held in December.
The program's primary purpose is to provide advanced knowledge, enhanced leadership skills, and direct, practical work application for selected MSU employees, according to Meg Arnold, learning and development manager for Human Resources Management, which coordinates the program.
"Employee development programs such as LEAP help give professionals at Mississippi State the tools they need to compete and succeed," she said.
Chosen through a competitive nomination and selection process, this year's group includes:
--Heather Andrews, information services coordinator, Shared Advancement Services;
--Bobbie Baker, business manager II, Vice President for Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine;
--Michael K. Busby, manager/distance education, Center for Distance Education;
--David Garraway, video program manager, University Television Center/University Relations;
--Clay Hill, websites manager/coordinator of web services; MSU Libraries Web Services;
--NaToya Hill, recruitment, retention and program specialist, Office of Inclusive Excellence;
--Shauncey Hill, business manager, Institute for Imaging and Analytical Technology;
--Melissa Inmon, procurement card manager, Office of Procurement and Contracts;
--Nicole Ivancic, contract and grant specialist, Computer Science and Engineering;
--Mashala Pulliam, IGBB accountant, High Performance Computing Collaboratory/Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology;
--Andrew Rendon, assistant dean of student affairs, Division of Student Affairs;
--Alexander Washington, loan counselor, Student Financial Aid;
--Christine Williams, Institutional Review Board compliance administrator, Office of Regulatory Compliance and Safety;
--Lari H. Wright, associate director for administrative operations, Housing and Residence Life.
Campus session presenters will include Greg Bohach, Darrell Easley, Sharon Fanning, Bill Kibler, Lemond Irvin, Joan Lucas, Scott Maynard, Wanda McCallum, Patrik Nordin, Allison Pearson, David Shaw, Cade Smith, Judy Spencer, Tommy Stevenson, Kacey Strickland, Scott Stricklin, John Rush, Jason Townsend, Amy Tuck, Ron White, Carmen Wilder, and Don Zant.
For additional information about the program, contact Arnold at 662-325-3713 or marnold@hrm.msstate.edu.
For more about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.