Leaders are being handcrafted at Valparaiso University with their latest leadership program for staff and faculty members – Valpo LEADs. The program is aimed at staff members looking to take the next step in their department, and faculty members are extending a helping hand to guide them to their desired leadership position.
“It’s a way for participants to learn about the principles of leadership and learn about their own leadership skills,” said Richard Sévère, a member of the inaugural cohort of Valpo LEADs and chair of the English department.
Sévère received an invitation via email to participate in the first class of the year-long program, beginning in fall 2020. He accepted it, not knowing the depth to which he would learn about leadership in multiple forms.
“I got to learn so much about what my colleagues were doing across campus, it wasn’t just faculty participants,” said Sévère. “It was interesting to learn about how each person thought about leadership in their specific section of campus.”
Sévère described it as a valuable opportunity that makes for a unique experience at Valparaiso University, and Assistant Vice President of Student Life Carolyn Whittier wholeheartedly agreed.
Whitter said the idea for the program came to be after Valparaiso University faculty members participated in other leadership training sessions, and they wanted to replicate it with a twist.
“It consists of a year-long set of workshops that help introduce concepts around being a leader specifically at our specific university,” Whitter said.
The inaugural cohort was made up of six faculty members and six staff members, which was the intended approach to guarantee a one-on-one connection between faculty and staff members. Together, the pairs worked through the school year to build leadership skills.
“Coming around a meal together is a common experience for most, so we did just that as our first activity,” Whitter said.
The first activity as a cohort required participants to cook together as a way to get to know each other. The second activity included strength building exercises that put the staff members’ goals into perspective. From there, faculty mentors took staff members under their wing to complete other sessions with the exception of remote sessions caused by the pandemic.
“The cohort really began with two very impactful experiences and then they traveled throughout their content,” Whitter said.
Sévère said his experience with his mentor was the foundation for his success in leadership at the institution.
“My relationship with my mentor was amazing,” Sévère said. “We had the opportunity to go on walking meetings prior to the pandmeic to talk about my goals and future plans. It was really impactful.”
He also highly recommended the approach because of the opportunity for faculty members to focus their attention on mentoring one staff member and single-handedly walking them through the process.
“I think that really adds a special dynamic to the program since we have individuals who have had experience to teach those about leadership at the institution and at higher levels,” Sévère said.
As the next cohort is set to begin in August 2021, Sévère encouraged anyone nominated to participate in the program to do so.
“It was great to see how I fit in that puzzle and the conversation about leadership at Valparaiso University and the longevity and sustainability of a legacy,” Sévère said.
Whitter reflected on the past cohort, but also noted how she is excited to welcome the next class and open another door for staff members at the university.
“Overall, it was a very rich and deep dialogue with one another and among one another. Now, those individuals have stronger friendships and colleague-ships on campus,” Whitter said.
To learn more about leadership opportunities at Valparaiso University, visit www.valpo.edu.