The University of Illinois System’s Professional Staff Leadership Academy (PSLA, formerly known as the Academic Professional Leadership Program) utilizes superior leadership principles and applications to develop key professionals. Through relationships built across the University of Illinois System, the program uses the knowledge of University staff, executives, academic theory and practical applications to foster an environment where leaders can emerge.

The program accommodates 20 participants in any given twelve-month class. Candidates for the program must meet eligibility requirements and possess the desire and passion to contribute to the success of the University of Illinois System. They must demonstrate values that are consistent with those of the system and have the characteristics and competencies that are exemplary of superior leadership.

Mission

Foster and sustain a culture of exceptional, dynamic, and transformational leadership at all levels throughout the University of Illinois System.

Goals

The goals of the Professional Staff Leadership Academy focus on the individual development of University of Illinois professionals and the transmission of inter-institutional knowledge. The program goals are:

• Create opportunities for the development of emerging leaders.
• Teach and provide opportunities to develop and implement best practices associated with leadership roles and responsibilities.
• Create a cross-functional system-wide network of leaders that are capable of successfully executing strategic plans and accomplishing strategic goals.
• Develop leaders' change capability in order to react quickly to our rapidly changing economic and social environment.
• Develop leaders' emotional intelligence to advance leadership impact.

Curriculum

The curriculum consists of six integrated components.  Topics included in each of the components include:

University Organization	Leadership and Academic Theory
University Operations	Management
External Relations	Professional Development

The sessions will be supplemented by three additional activities:

1. Participants will complete two development assessments and receive a minimum of two coaching sessions by a certified facilitator. 
2. A reading program will offer insights into current literature related to the program topics. Reviews of the literature will be integrated throughout the twelve-month curriculum.
3.  A mentoring program will be offered to academy members. Mentoring can offer insights into the University operation, its formal and informal culture. Mentors can also be good sounding boards to test ideas, discuss issues and career goals. The mentoring program will be established and supported by the academy, but mentor meetings will occur outside of the formal conference sessions.

Eligibility

1. Permanent, 12 month, non-visiting Academic Professional or professional civil service employees with at least an 80% time appointment.
2. Applicants should have a minimum of three (3) cumulative years of service as an academic professional or civil service employee at the University. Eligible applicants should have completed the three year requirement by the application deadline (October 31, 2022).
3. Minimum of two or more years in a management role. Example include, but are not limited to supervising staff, managing large projects and/or programs that require responsibility for deliverables and/or project budget.
4. Support of supervisor and/or department head.
5. Not currently a member of another University-sponsored leadership program or past UAFP (University Administrative Fellows Program) participant.
6. Applicants do not need to be nominated to apply.
7. Selected participants are expected to attend all conference dates.

Application Process

Eligible employees must complete the online application and provide the following:

• current resume
• letter of interest (500 words or less) indicating:
  • their interest and expectations for the program
  • career goals
  • a description of a professional experience in which the candidate took a leadership role, including examples of how the candidate was or was not effective, as well as what the candidate learned from the experience
• letter of support and commitment from his/her immediate supervisor and/or department head.

Applications for the 2024 cohort will be accepted starting Monday, October 2, 2023.  

Cohort Selection

The Professional Staff Leadership Academy (PSLA) steering team selects 20 participants and 3 alternates from all eligible submissions and makes a recommendation to the Program Sponsor for final class participation. Selected candidates will be notified in mid-December.  

Conference Dates

Conferences will be held March 8-10, 2023 (Springfield), June 7-9, 2023 (System - Urbana), September 27-29, 2023 (Chicago) and November 1-3, 2023 (Urbana). All dates and conference formats are subject to change based on COVID circumstances and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. Selected participants are expected to attend all conference dates.

Program Cost

The participant's department will pay a one-time $1,000 fee to participate in the program. The System Office will cover the remaining costs of the program. 

Program Committees

Program Sponsors: Nick Jones, Office of the Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Jami Painter, Senior Associate Vice President and Chief HR Officer for System Human Resource Services

Program Coordination Staff: Jackie Billhymer, Assistant Director, Organizational Effectiveness, Joy Brownridge, Training & Development Specialist and Zuri White, Training & Development Specialist

Steering Team:

• Jami Painter, Chair, System Human Resource Services
• April Read, UI Health
• Laura Clower, President's Office
• Kyle Harfst, Office of the Vice President for Economic Development and Innovation
• Tremayne Price, Chancellor's Office, UIC
• Joan Sestak, Chancellor's Office, UIS
• Kandace Turner, Chancellor's Office, UIUC

Curriculum Advisory Committee:

• Jami Painter, ​Chair​, System Human Resource Services
• Cheri Canfield, Human Resources, UIC
• Shari Mickey-Boggs, Illinois Human Resources, UIUC
• Melissa Mlynski, Human Resources, UIS
• Sarah Gantz, Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs

Additionally, each year one representative from each of the universities and system office are selected by their class to serve on the following year's Curriculum Advisory Committee.

2023 Program Participants

To view participant bios, click here.

Urbana-Champaign

• Dr. Ellen Wang Althaus, IDEA Institute, Engineering Administration
• Dr. Cristina Álvarez-Mingote, Beckman Institute
• Elizabeth Chominski, GIES College of Business
• Meg Dickinson, Beckman Institute 
• Brian Jacobson, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Integrated Bioprocessing Research Lab (IBRL)
• Linda K. Lee Drozt, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation
• Amie Loyd, Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL)
• Dr. Subha Srinivasan, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology

Chicago

• Jeanette Agustin, College of Medicine, Dermatology
• Dr. Natalie Bennett, Women's Leadership and Resource Center
• Benjamin Dohner, UI Hospital, Dept of Information Services
• Edward Drogos, College of Nursing, Population Health Nursing Science
• Sharon Hayes, College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs, Public Administration
• Odell M. Richmond, Jr., UIC Human Resources
• Justin Wier, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Student Academic Affairs

Springfield

• Rebekah Grosboll, Public Affairs and Administration
• Dr. Tarah Sweeting-Trotter, Center for Academic Success and Advising

System Offices

• Marissa Brooke Brewer, Office of External Relations and Communications
• Dale J. Morrison, Esq., Procurement Diversity
• Alice Seaton, University Bursar

PSLA Alumni

Questions?

Email us at pslacademy@uillinois.edu

 

Alumni Testimonials

I am grateful to have been part of the inaugural class of this program! Being able to hear from leaders across the three universities within the University of Illinois System and spending a day at the Capitol in Springfield were great ways to understand the larger context for our individual roles and contributions to the overall mission. The many opportunities of the program and the network and friendships that have developed have been a great motivator for me to become more involved across campus and made me a better advocate for the University of Illinois.

-Agnes Herget, Class of 2019 

 

PSLA has allowed me to expand my professional network across the system to people who I would not have otherwise interacted with within my current position. I have learned more about my leadership style and made adaptations to better interact with a wide range of people and multiple generations of personnel. I especially appreciate learning about the unique styles of leaders across the system and getting to experience some of the top offerings/services/programs at each campus. Also, learning about governance has been beneficial as I work on my professional development and establish additional career goals.

-Katherine Battee-Freeman, Class of 2020 

 

PSLA has given me so much more than I anticipated! I have gained perspective on the university system beyond the lens of my work and I’m growing a network across divisions that lead for ease and fluidity in being able to better help students. I was grateful for the reflective time away from the daily office activities to see how I might be able to provide impact on this space.

-Viviana Kabbabe-Thompson, Class of 2021