Apply Now for Two Duke Programs to Build Leadership and Career Skills

Applications for the Frontline Supervisors Program and Foundational Skills Program are due by Aug. 15

A classroom with raised hands.
Photo by Travis Stanley.

When Preston Roundy stepped into his new role as Assistant Manager of Rehabilitation Services in 2021, leading a team of about 13 physical therapists, he wasn’t sure he’d made the right move.

Suddenly, the challenge of holding tough conversations with colleagues seemed intimidating. Likewise, setting team goals and tracking productivity felt unfamiliar.

“I went from feeling like I was a decent physical therapist to feeling like I was a terrible manager,” said Roundy, who has worked at Duke since 2016.

With support from his managers, Roundy joined the 2023-24 class of the Frontline Supervisors Program, a professional development program offered by Duke Learning & Organization Development (L&OD), a unit in Duke Human Resources.

Frontline Supervisors Program graduate Preston Roundy spoke at the 2024 graduation ceremony for the program. Photo by Stephen Schramm.

Through the program, Roundy gained a deeper understanding of what it means to lead and discovered a lot about himself.

He discovered that while empathy strengthened his connection with his team, it also made giving tough feedback more challenging.

He learned to advocate for his staff and found support in peers navigating similar experiences.

“With the curriculum, the books and the community, the program gives you a bit of a scaffolding around you as you learn how to be an effective manager” said Roundy, who now manages a team of 29 people.

Duke staff looking to grow in their leadership or career skills can apply to two upcoming programs that are part of L&OD's Professional Development Academy:

Frontline Supervisors Program

The fourth edition of the Frontline Supervisors Program launches this fall, with applications open through Aug. 15.

Designed for first-time managers at Duke University and Duke University Health System, the 10-month program supports those who lead teams and have been in their roles for two years or less.

The program includes a series of monthly, in-person daytime sessions starting in October 2025 and running through June 2026 with a kickoff event in September.

Veronica Mills, left, shares a moment with Duke Vice President of Human Resources Antwan Lofton during the celebration of the 2024 Frontline Supervisors Program graduates. Photo by Stephen Schramm.

"This program is designed for entry-level managers who are eager to gain an understanding of the tenants of leadership and management and how to apply them for effectiveness in their role." said Shannon Ashford, the program’s organizer and Associate Director for Organization and Workforce Development for L&OD. "We encourage individuals to apply who meet the qualifications, lead with curiosity and are excited to engage in professional development. 

Participants will complete a 360-degree assessment to better understand their management style and learn strategies for building and leading teams. They’ll receive individualized coaching from program instructors, hear personal stories from Duke leaders and be paired with senior mentors who work in their area of Duke. Working in teams, they’ll also tackle case studies on topics suggested by Duke leaders.

Veronica Mills, who was part of the 2023-24 Frontline Supervisors class, learned how to manage conflicts and coach and encourage team members to build their professional skills.

 “It was great to learn more about the role of a manager and how to navigate through the what-ifs and what-nots that managers deal with on a day-to-day basis,” she said.

Foundational Skills Program

Nominations are now being accepted for the Foundational Skills Program, which provides professional growth opportunities for non-administrative employees of Duke University and Duke Health.

First offered in 2018, the Foundational Skills Program is a year-long program that provides in-person coaching and instruction in interpersonal communication, customer service and administrative skills for facilities and service level staff working in non-administrative roles categorized as levels 1-5, B1 and B2.

Participants will gain experience with essential tools such as Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel and be paired with mentors who can help them apply these and other skills to grow in their roles or explore new opportunities.

“We want to provide learning opportunities that might not be typically found in some areas of our organization but can teach skills that everyone can benefit from,” said Marjorie Siegert, program leader and Senior Learning & Organization Development Consultant for L&OD. “If someone wants to expand their role, take on more responsibilities, become a team lead or learn a new skill, this program is for them.”

Nominations are due by Aug. 15, and the program begins in October.

Send story ideas, shout-outs and photographs through our story idea form or write working@duke.edu.

Follow Working@Duke on X (Twitter), Facebook and Instagram and subscribe on YouTube.