Staff Fellows Program
The purpose of the Staff Fellows Program is to make KU a stronger institution by providing opportunities for selected staff to take part in a structured program of professional development that includes skill and leadership development, and the opportunity to gain broader knowledge of the University of Kansas.
The Staff Fellows Program is jointly sponsored by the Office of the Provost and the department of Human Resources and Equal Opportunity. KU has a wealth of talent within its staff ranks; however, few staff members have the luxury of availing themselves of national professional development experiences because of distance and cost.
To assist university staff in their professional development, the Staff Fellows Program is modeled after the successful Faculty Senior Administrative Fellows program. This program allows selected staff the opportunity to explore higher education administration during regular work hours.
A group of 8-10 staff fellows who have been employed by KU for two or more years will be selected from applications to work together for approximately four hours per month during the academic year. A portion of the time will be spent exploring various aspects of the larger administrative structure at KU. There is no stipend for this experience, and the applicant’s supervisor will be asked to make a recommendation for participation and to allow release time to participate. This program is primarily for professional development. There is no expectation that Staff Fellows will be given preference in job searches at KU.
You can expect:
- Time spent with senior administrators at KU exploring the nature of the work they do and the challenges they face;
- Twice-monthly meetings designed to give a general overview of the major units of the university and to increase skills necessary for leadership and team building;
- Discussions on topics of leadership, the future of higher education, and public policy;
- Opportunity to discuss in a confidential setting the challenges and opportunities of staff work; and
- An opportunity to share your expertise with the cohort of fellows.
Benefits to the staff applicant:
- A deeper connection to and understanding of the broader KU community;
- Structured professional development that enhances one’s resume;
- An opportunity to serve the University of Kansas; and
Benefits to the staff’s home unit:
- The development of a staff member who will have a broader understanding of how the university works;
- Possible retention or re-invigoration of an excellent staff member who has hit a plateau in engagement; and
Benefits to the University of Kansas:
- Part of the vitality of the University of Kansas is its size and the diversity of units. The difficulty is that individual staff can be isolated by their work loads and activities. Helping staff feel more connected to the larger university fosters cooperation and cohesiveness between units.
- Many staff want to “make a difference” where they work. This program gives staff opportunities to make enhancements to their units and build stronger relationships which can result in retention of quality staff.
- The program gives a way to recognize, nurture, and support excellent staff.
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Would you like to apply?
Am I eligible?
Who is eligible:
Application to this program is open to staff members who have been at KU for at least two years and who have the support of their supervisor. Both Regular Unclassified Professional Staff and University Support Staff are eligible and encouraged to apply.How do I apply?
The ideal application for the program will possess:
- A history of exceptional work at the University of Kansas, as documented by a supervisor’s letter of endorsement addressing the candidate’s potential for leadership;
- The ability to work collaboratively with a cohort of other fellows in a seminar style of learning;
- Innovative ideas that impact KU’s future;
- Enthusiasm for the larger mission of KU and desire to engage in that mission; and
- The ability to commit to a two-hour time block, twice per month.
Applications for 2012-2013 will be accepted beginning Summer 2012
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Staff Fellows
2011-2012 Staff Fellows Name Title / Department Pat Argueta Administrative Professional Sr., Student Success-Vice Provost Mike Broadwell Director, Libraries-General Terry Bryant Manager/Administrator, Journalism Dina Evans Coordinator, Music Administration Jennifer Hanson Project Manager, Comptroller’s Office Karen Hester Director, Law Administration Jaime Keeler Administrative Associate Sr., Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Kristine Latta Associate Director, Hall Center for the Humanities Kevin Liu Associate Director, Confucius Institute Jaci Matney Program Director, Information Technology Services Jim Peters Director Program Coordination, Continuing Education Admin. Jennifer Talbott Director of Internal Operations, Spencer Museum of Art Sara Vancil Assistant Director, Financial Aid & Scholarship Lynn Villafuerte Project Coordinator, Higuchi Biosciences Center Leslie Vonholten Program Assistant, Center for East Asian Studies 2009-2010 Staff Fellows Name Title / Department Aileen Ball Head, Annex Records Mgmt Department: Cataloging, Watson Library Kelly Crane Coordinator, Marketing Communications, School of Journalism, Edwards Campus Donna Devine Project Manager-Rosedale, School of Social Welfare Ed Foley Recruitment Director, Edwards Campus Jo Hardesty Director/Managing Attorney, Legal Services for Students Melissa Johnson Assistant Director, University Career Center Jennifer Jordan Director, Business Career Services Maritza Machado-Williams Director, Academic Programs for Excellence Dan McCarthy Academic Advisor, University Advising Center Natalie Parker Program Coordinator, Institute for Policy & Social Research Rueben Perez Director, Student Involvement and Leadership Center Amanda Schwegler Assistant Director, Center for Service Learning -
Staff Fellows Video
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