Professional Development Program Awards 139 with Certificates

Recipients of the Professional Excellence Certificate had their eyes on the future on July 17 during a graduation ceremony hosted by Duke’s Learning & Organization Development. 

In all, 139 University and Health System employees received certificates in one of seven disciplines from Learning & Organization Development (L&OD): Administrative Assistant, Executive Assistant, Training, Customer Service, Supervisory, Leadership and Technical.

“Investing in our employee population is absolutely essential,” said Kyle Cavanaugh, Duke’s vice president for administration who offered remarks during the ceremony in Penn Pavilion on West Campus. “We need to continue providing our workforce with the skills needed to support Duke’s strategic direction.” 

To earn a certificate, employees take three to four core courses along with two to four electives. Typically, that means about 72 hours of L&OD courses.  

Sharena Ballard, program coordinator for the Duke-UNC Brain Imaging & Analysis Center, earned certificates in the administrative assistant and executive assistant categories. The program inspired her to investigate pursuing a bachelor’s degree in accounting or business. 

“I never thought I would return to school,” Ballard said. “Earning the certificates gave me confidence. I’m ready to keep learning and growing.”

About 350 employees have received certificates since the program launched in 2014. Another 2,500 are currently pursuing an L&OD certificate in one of the seven disciplines. 

“This is a journey,” said Keisha Williams, assistant vice president of L&OD. “We’re teaching the participants to have the skills needed to move their career and Duke forward.” 

Cindi Wood, a lieutenant for the Duke University Police Department, completed the supervisory certificate and is working on a certificate for leadership excellence. She supervises about 25 officers and signed up for the program to learn how to manage different personality types.  

L&OD instructors taught Wood how to practice active listening, maintain positive body language and find the right tools to motivate employees. 

“The certificates should act as a bridge for my employees,” Wood said. “I want to use the skills I picked up to motivate my team into pursuing leadership roles. I want to inspire them to always strive for more.” 

Here is the full list of graduates: 

Leadership Excellence 

Nathan Amos

Jennifer Bailey

Adrienne Baroff

Cheryl Bock

Emilia Chiscop Head

Jeff Fisher

Nicole Fleming

Kris Herring

Karem Jackson

Lisa Massa

Edward “Jamie” Mills

Sulochana Naidoo

Hien Nguyen

Sara Patillo

Diane Satterfield

Claire Swift

Kelsey Vinson

Colette Watt

Supervisory Excellence 

Jack Adams

Angelo Azevedo

Barbara Baxter

Megan Bell

Cheryl Bock

Walter Crevoiserat Jr

Daniela Cofoni

Marianne Drexler

Alberto Dunbar

Amanda Frederick

Kris Herring

Amy Judd

Tamara Kirk

Erica Kitchen

Kenneth Langenhahn

Tracey Lannon

Aijun (Anna) Li

Tracey Madrid

Viken Momdjian

Cristin Ryman

Sally Paul

Deidra Powell

Margaret “Peg” Rood

Michelle St. Pierre-Gurganus

Mary Jo Smith

Melinda Strickland

Vivian Thompson

Christopher Todd

Deborah Vanderford

Darla Wohlfarth

Cindi Wood

Amal Youssef-Elgamal

Customer Service Excellence

Wanda Amons

Babi Borah

Jennifer Collins-Mancour

Minerva Dantzler

Tammy Day

Emily Dysart

Sarah Friskney

Kimberly Holleman

Stephanie Jordan

Chandra Lingenfelter

Melissa Neeley

Love Nelson

Robin Owens

Nadia Pasha

Maryann Payne

Ashley Personius

Nichole Ryan

Yashaundra (Shonie) Taylor

Ashaletta Troxel

Elisabeth Wharton

Amal Youssef-Elgamal

Judy Zlatovich

Training Excellence 

Kimberly Black

Thomas Devine

Alpha Esser

Diane Satterfield

Laurelin Younger

Technical Excellence 

Lamont Bass-Patillo

Dominique Cole

June Durand

Malinda Elammari

Pratik Gandhi

Susan McClanahan

Crystal Russell

Tiffany Standridge

Elisabeth Wharton

Administrative Assistant of Excellence

Sharena Ballard

Ginger Berry

Cecilia Burns

Kim Campbell

Kimberly Cotton-Wilson

Ameshia Daniels

Bonita Douglas

Sharon W. Evans

Lisa Griffin

Elizabeth “Lizz” Hawkey

Lee Hines

Jennifer Hunter

Lisa Keith

Angela Latta

Robin Marley

Robin Mason

Chantia Massey

Ashley McCann

Tabitha Moore

Gail Morrah

Ebony Nash

Victoria Navarrete

Lara Orgain

Deborah Patillo

Ashley Robbins

Norma Roberts

Catonya Ross-Holloway

Cassandra Royal

Stephanie Stephens

Linda Suite

Mark Taylor

Carolina Tennyson Laws

Kimberly Toole

Vickie Z. Waters

Erin Willis

Athena Wilson

Kaitlyn Wilson

Leia Wright

Executive Assistant of Excellence

Cecilia Burns

Diane Butler

Ameshia Daniels

Wendy Dixon

Bonita Douglas

Irish Hamilton

Kristina Hill

Gail Morrah

Ebony Nash

Lara Orgain

Sherolyn Patterson

Ashley Robbins

Catonya Ross-Holloway

Cassandra Royal

Linda Suite

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