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Duke Celebrates Emerging Leaders

Members of 2011 Leadership Academy graduate

The 2011 class of Duke's Leadership Academy pose on the steps of Duke Chapel. Photo by Duke Photography.
The 2011 class of Duke's Leadership Academy pose on the steps of Duke Chapel. Photo by Duke Photography.

Twenty faculty and staff members representing areas across Duke - from Athletics to University Development - recently graduated as the 2011 class of the Duke Leadership Academy.

In a ceremony Dec. 16 at the Fuqua School of Business, members of the program and university leaders recalled the year-long program and offered words of encouragement to graduates. Participants in the Leadership Academy are handpicked each year by the dean or vice president from academic and administrative areas across Duke.

"The Duke Leadership program has received strong support from our deans and vice presidents over the past two years," said Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president of administration. "The program has allowed us to identify individuals who have the capacity to take on future leadership assignments and to support them through a systematic development experience."

The curriculum for the program is based on best practices from the Fuqua/Coach K Center On Leadership and Ethics model. During the program, participants hear directly from leaders at Duke, Durham and members of the university's board of trustees about their perspectives and experiences. Participants also have monthly readings and assignments that focus on critical leadership behaviors

The group assignments used by the Leadership Academy were particularly helpful for Kay Marshall, who said the program gave her a good way to build her networking community with fellow Duke leaders and learn ways to communicate with others to improve management abilities.

"Of particular value were the results of evaluations I received from my supervisor, peers and subordinates that highlighted my strengths and identifying opportunities for improvement related to my leadership skills," said Marshall, chief administrator at the School of Medicine's Department of Pediatrics. "It was also enlightening to learn from Duke leaders that there isn't
necessarily one perfect path to becoming a successful leader."

Chris Rice, director of the Duke Divinity School's Center for Reconciliation, said that being a part of the Leadership Academy provided him a broader view of Duke and its mission like he hadn't seen before. After interacting with his peers and hearing from speakers like President Richard Brodhead and Larry Moneta, vice president for student affairs, Rice said he felt inspired to pursue academic growth. He recently finished his first semester in the Divinity School's Doctor of Ministry program.

"The Leadership Academy gave me the courage to look at my own personal renewal through educational development," Rice said. "I don't think I would've done that without this experience."

The 2012 class will begin this month. The graduates of the 2011 class are:

Jonathan Abels, Tia Barnes, Jason Belk, Gary Block, Laura Brinn, Edgardo Colon-Emeric, Keba Cook, John Dailey, Kevin Davis, Carol Epling, Leigh Fickling, Cindy Hartmann, Taylor Hemphill, Rick Johnson, Kay Marshall, Mitch Moser, Chris Rice, Glenn Setliff, Jennifer Spisak-Cameron, and Joyce Williams.