Public Management Center announces Emerging Leaders Academy graduates
LAWRENCE – The University of Kansas Public Management Center has announced the fall 2020 Emerging Leaders Academy (ELA) graduates. The graduation ceremony was held virtually Dec. 11 due to safety concerns around COVID-19.
The 36 graduates come from various public sector organizations across Kansas and the Kansas City metropolitan area, including government agencies at the local, state and federal levels, as well as nonprofit organizations. The fall session began in late August and met weekly online in Wednesday or Friday cohorts.
ELA is a program targeted to promising, nonmanagerial staff to help them prepare for leadership roles in their departments and agencies. Participants meet together 10 times over four months, with classes designed to help them hone their skills for positions of increasing responsibility while also growing their effectiveness in their current roles.
“Every lesson had a takeaway,” said Bryan Hinterweger, an ELA graduate from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. “I cherished interacting with such inspiring people, especially during the pandemic.”
The classes are designed to help participants enhance skills in leadership, organizational dynamics and communication as well as engaging them in career planning.
Organizations benefit from their investments in sending staff to ELA as they gain a more prepared and engaged talent pool to draw from as they plan for the future.
“Class activities support participants in identifying and progressing toward their professional goals while also equipping them to make stronger contributions in their current roles,” said Noel Rasor, ELA program manager. “Lots of individuals end up working in public service agencies just because it’s where they found a job but then see how much their work matters to their communities and become committed to making a difference. We help them map out a career path so they can see a future with their organizations.”
For more information, contact Noel Rasor at noel@ku.edu or (785) 864-5117. This year’s spring cohort will meet online on Wednesdays or Fridays. Registration is currently open, and classes begin Feb. 24 or Feb. 26.
Graduates who gave permission to share their name are listed below:
- Christine Albers, Johnson County Human Services
- Charles Anderson, Department of Health & Human Services, OGC Region 7
- Hannah Ankenbauer, Mid-America Regional Council
- Josh Carson, City of Lawrence
- Gabriela Cruz, Finney County Deputy Clerk
- Clint Flory, Douglas County Fairgrounds
- Erin Guardiola, Kansas Board of Regents
- Bryan Hinterweger, Kansas Bureau of Investigation
- Amanda Horner, Mid-America Regional Council
- Brandy Janeski, Shawnee County Sheriff's Office
- Nathan Keener, Kansas Racing Gaming Commission
- Jessica Kidwell, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7
- Bethany King, Johnson County Mental Health
- Kristen Love, Unified Government of Wyandotte County
- Matthew Ludwick, State of Kansas, Office of IT Services
- Brent Luedeke, Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical Department
- DeAnna McColm, Kansas Public Employees Retirement System
- Karen Miller, Johnson County Department of Planning, Housing and Community Development
- Kelly Munyan, Finney County
- James Newman, Kansas Bureau of Investigation
- Bethany Olson, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7
- Erin Reisner, Johnson County Mental Health Center
- Kelly Schumacher, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7
- Douglas Simms, captain, City of Shawnee Fire Department
- Isaac Smoots, Douglas County Maintenance
- Nathan Snyder, Kansas Board of Regents
- Barry Voelker, Johnson County Facilities Department
- Ridge Walker, City of Augusta, Electric Distribution
- Katherine Weik, Planning and Development Services, City of Lawrence
- Katie Wieberg, Blue Valley Recreation Commission
- Matthew Woodward, Kansas Information Security Office
- Andrew Wynne, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7
The KU Public Management Center is dedicated to meeting the professional development and academic needs of organizations and individuals at all levels within the public sector.