Duke Frontline Supervisor and Foundational Skills Programs Celebrate 2025-26 Graduates
Participants in two Duke professional development programs leave with new skills and confidence to shape their future
Both the Frontline Supervisor Program and the Foundational Skills Program celebrated their 2025-26 graduates July 14 at the Nasher Museum of Art. The two 10-month programs are part of Duke’s Professional Development Academy, organized by Leadership & Organization Development, a unit in Duke Human Resources. The Foundational Skills Program also supports Duke HomeGrown’s EMPLOY pillar, which focuses on retention and advancement in key entry-level roles.
Frontline Supervisor Program
When graduates of the Frontline Supervisor Program were asked to arrive to their graduation ceremony 15 minutes before the start time, they were all in place – early.
That was a recurrent theme throughout the program, which is designed for first-time managers at Duke University and Duke University Health System to support those who lead teams and have been in their roles for less than two years.
“Every single one of you arrived early, ready to go – and you have been consistently ‘ready and willing’ during the entire program,” said Shannon Ashford, program leader and L&OD Associate Director for Organization and Workforce Development.
The program included a series of monthly, in-person daytime sessions starting in October 2025 and running through June 2026. As part of the program, the fourth cohort of participants had 360-degree evaluations showing how their leadership style meshes with colleagues, received individual coaching from L&OD experts and senior mentors and completed case studies on topics proposed by Duke leaders.
“I'm excited to stand before a group of leaders that have demonstrated your commitment to self,” said Antwan Lofton, Vice President for Duke Human Resources. “And by way of that, you've made a great commitment to Duke.
“I want you to continue to show up, be early, and be present for your future. Do not get so caught up in what's going on around you that you forget the promises that you made to yourself.”
Foundational Skills Program
Nasher Museum of Art Security Ambassador Johann Kempf is only a handful of years removed from college, but he knows he’s not where he ultimately wants to be in his career. Duke’s Foundational Skills Program helped strengthen advanced skills for him to realize that's achievable.
“This helped me gain more confidence to allow myself to accept not getting where I want to be when I want to be there and realizing it’s a marathon, not a sprint,” Kempf said. “The skills this program provides are immensely helpful, especially to the younger generation.”
The Foundational Skills Program is part of Duke’s Professional Development Academy and offers tailored training to Duke University and Duke University Health System staff in non-administrative roles.
With training, coaching, mentoring and strengths assessments, the program provides a holistic approach to professional development, helping participants strengthen their skills, expand their confidence and grow personally and professionally within their careers at Duke.
Highlights for participants included completing a CliftonStrengths assessment to identify strengths and improve awareness of working habits. Each of the 10 graduates of the newly restructured program have agreed to be mentors for future cohorts, L&OD program leader Marjorie Siegert said.
“My ask is that you do not let your flame go out, you continue to seek knowledge,” said Lofton, the Vice President for Duke Human Resources. “You continue to figure out what's best for you in your next stage of employment, figuring out what can you do within each of your units of assignment to work with your leaders to figure out what can we do to make this place called Duke, encompassing both university and health system, even greater.”
The members of the 2026-27 Foundational Skills Program scholars have been selected. Applications for the 2027 Frontline Supervisor Program are open, while Foundational Skills Program nominations will open in the spring.
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2025-26 Frontline Supervisor Program Graduates
Andie Ventura – Sterile Processing Supervisor, Duke South HLD
Angela Calderon – Case Manager Preceptor Team Lead, Case Management
Beth DeMarco – Clinical Nurse IV Leader, DUH Pediatric and Adult Congenital Cardiac Catheterization and Electrophysiology Lab
Chiara Mecagni – Assistant Manager, DUH Rehab Services
Claudia Paren – Associate Patient Safety Officer, Team Lead, Duke Quality Network
Corinne Germain – GMP Tech., DHVI, Run the Business
David Clarke – Scientist 1, Process ENG 1, DHVI, Manufacturing
Derrick Leake – Sterile Processing Supervisor, Sterile Processing DMP
Fatima Ahmed – Lab Supervisor, Duke Central Automated Lab
Jennifer Olson – Clinical Nurse IV Leader, Triangle Heart Associates, Duke Health Integrated Practice
Judy Decal – Lab Supervisor, Duke Clinical Microbiology
Katie Rauschenberg – Nursing Supervisor, OHS Duke Employee Health
Krystal Thillet-Torres – Service Access Manager, Physical and Occupational Therapy/ Imaging
Leanne Edwards – Clinical Nurse IV Leader, SDS Preop Duke Raleigh Hospital
Mackenzie Ray – GMP Scientist/Engineer 1 – Bioprocess, DHVI, Manufacturing
Paige Vinson – Student Services Coordinator, Physical Therapy
Sam Broderick – Senior Biostatistician, Duke Clinical Research Institute, Interventional Biostatistics
Silvia Grant – Research Program Leader II, Urogenital Microbiome Research Program (Ur-BIOME), Duke Obstetrics & Gynecology
Stephen Mills – Assistant Manager, Department of Rehabilitation
Taylor Morgan – Service Access Team Lead, Cancer Center PRMO
2025-26 Foundational Skills Program Graduates
Habibah Abdullah – DHTS Service Operations Center Analyst, SOC Duke Medicine Operators
Corey Benjamin – EKG Technician, DN Pre-op Screening
Margaret Bittle – Housekeeper Specialist, Facilities
Lashima Davis – Nursing Care Assistant, DUHS Float Pool Clinical Support
Thomas Hamilton – Security Ambassador, Nasher Museum of Art
Cathy Johnson – Housekeeping Specialist, School of Nursing
Johann Kempf – Security Ambassador, Nasher Museum of Art
Chad Laswell – Grounds Equipment Operator, Landscape Services
Lakia Rhodes – Housekeeper Specialist, HK - Operations
Gloria Turner – Nursing Care Assistant/Health Unite Coordinator, Duke Raleigh Hospital Surgical Oncology
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