State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota’s (SCF) Leadership Academy spent three days in Tallahassee in February learning how the state legislative process impacts the college. Academy members learned how budgets and policy are developed and become law in the state legislature. The group also met with five members of the Manatee and Sarasota County legislative delegation, receiving updates on budget and legislative issues that could affect SCF.
The Leadership Academy, in its first year at SCF, is designed to foster personal and professional growth based on competencies identified by the American Association of Community Colleges in its Emerging Leaders program. The group of eight faculty and staff began meeting in September and will wrap up their training in late April by presenting their findings on a group project assigned to them by senior leadership.
In addition to the trip to Tallahassee, Leadership Academy members have been participating in lunch and learn sessions encompassing topics such as public records law, managing difficult conversations, customer service, time management and conflict resolution. The program includes required “immersion activities” such as attending an SCF District Board of Trustees meeting, a local county School Board meeting or sitting in on a meeting with SCF administration.
This year’s Leadership Academy consists of the following members:
• Rebecca Ferda, manager of business operations, Business Services
• Danny Fuerstman, associate professor, Social & Behavioral Sciences
• Michele Groves, advisor, Career Resource Center
• Shalia Moore-Hayes, reading instructor, SCF Collegiate School
• Andrea Lee, advisor, Advising Services
• Jason Reed, assistant professor, Business & Technology
• Joshua Schulte, assistant professor, Natural Sciences
• Gloria Tracy, assistant director, Human Resources
“It’s been a wonderful experience working with this inaugural group of emerging leaders at SCF and seeing them grow professionally through the Leadership Academy program,” said Jennifer LaHurd, director of human resources. “I’m excited to see their final project and then begin planning for the Class of 2019-20.”
For more information, contact LaHurd at 941-752-5599 or LaHurdJ@SCF.edu.