University announces 2022 cohort of Aspiring Leaders

LAWRENCE — Sixteen University of Kansas staff members will hone their leadership skills in 2022 through participation in the university’s Aspiring Leaders program. This is the seventh cohort since the program launched in 2017.

The six-month Aspiring Leaders program, originally designed in partnership with the Shared Service Centers leadership, provides an experiential, hands-on approach allowing participants to learn the essentials of effective leadership to lead from where they are within their organization.

The curriculum includes classroom sessions as well as individual coaching, small group collaborations, and independent study and reflection to sustain the learning. Underpinning the program is the belief that deep awareness of self is required to be an effective leader. Therefore, participants engage in clarifying their strengths, developing their ability to manage self, thinking critically and engaging the practice of leadership through a reflective and intentional pursuit.

“KU has a number of outstanding programs to help staff develop key interpersonal and professional skills. The Aspiring Leaders program, in particular, strengthens our university by preparing staff to be future leaders within the institution,” said Mike Rounds, vice provost for human resources, public safety, facilities and operations.

The 2022 Aspiring Leaders:

• Cassandra Mesick Braun, associate curator, Spencer Museum of Art
• Nick Carswell, radio program manager, Kansas Audio-Reader
• Cicily Corder, academic adviser, School of Business
• Andrew Eisch, assistant director of communications and digital media specialist, Kansas Athletics
• Elizabeth Everman, postdoctoral researcher, Department of Molecular Biosciences
• Madie Hanson, academic adviser, Undergraduate Advising Center
• Barbara Harrison, executive assistant, Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center
• Franek Hasiuk, associate scientist, Kansas Geological Survey
• Sean Mohlman, senior landscape worker, KU Facilities, Planning & Development
• Shayla Murphy, accounting specialist, Shared Services Center
• Erin Sampson, senior recruitment coordinator, Human Resource Management
• John Stipetich, emergency management specialist, Office of Public Safety
• Faunia Tuma, provost’s executive associate and manager of provost operations, Office of the Provost
• Diane VanGoethem, principal analyst, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
• Kareem Wall, student recruiter, Office of Admissions
• Ben Wilson, director of student athlete and professional development, Kansas Athletics.