Gordon State College Starts Second Cohort of Highlander Leadership Academy

By: Brittany A. Tennant, Communications Specialist
In an effort to continue fostering the education ethos of Gordon State College, the Highlander Leadership Academy gathered Friday for the first of six sessions designed to help faculty and staff develop leadership skills to strengthen their current roles and help prepare them for future leadership positions.
The Highlander Ethos is the fundamental spirit of Gordon State College that places our students, and their experiences, at the heart of everything.
“The Highlander Leadership Academy is part of the institution’s Strategic Plan to provide professional development opportunities,” said Gordon State College President Kirk A. Nooks. “Our students will be the beneficiary of our efforts to support faculty and staff as they partner together to further advance the Highlander Nation family.”
Members of the class represent both faculty and staff and include Steve Argo, Development Officer; Gratasha Banks, Assistant Director of Residence Life; Dr. Darren Broome, Professor of Spanish & French; Valerie Calhoun, Student Success Advisor; Dr. Amanda Duffus, Associate Professor of Biology, and Interim Coordinator of Undergraduate Research Symposium; Dr. Susan Glenn, Professor of Computer Science, and Interim Coordinator of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Engineering; Reggie Hamm, Director of Facilities; Dr. Anna Higgins-Harrell Professor of English/CETL Director and Dr. Prathibha Joshi, Professor of Economics.
In addition, Jeffrey Mason, Chief of Public Safety; Brie McDaniel, Director of Student Life and Recreation; Victoria Mills, Department head of Health Information Management; Jeremy Monroe, Student Life Coordinator; Creche Navarro, Human Resources; Carlous Plummer, Accounting Assistant; Dr. Lynn Rumfelt, Professor of Biology, Program Coordinator of Dept of Natural Sciences; LaSha Sanders, Special Assistant to the President; Dr. Craig Soaries, Limited Term Professor of Communication; Dr. Brian Webb, Associate Professor of Political Science; Jeff White, Associate Professor of Health & Physical Education complete the leadership roster.
During the first session, by University System of Georgia Leadership and Development Manager Dr. Wendi Jenkins facilitated the group. Jenkins led participants on a journey of self-assessment using the Emergenetics Profile. Emergenetics is defined as a blend of genetics and learned experiences expressed as a behavior and a way of thinking, allowing you will learn how thinking and behavioral attributes affect your communication, creativity, productivity and ability to work together.
“One of the best things we can do to maximize the Power of We is to continuously develop and build up our current and future leaders,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs C. Jeffery Knighton. “I am very excited to be working with such an outstanding and diverse group of campus leaders in our second cohort of the Highlander Leadership Academy this year. Our students are in great hands.”