2023-24 Cohort Completes Leadership Development Institute Program
July 08, 2024 | General
The University of Louisville Athletics Department continues to prioritize and encourage the professional development and personal growth of staff members through the Leadership Development Institute, supporting one of the department's overall goals of being the best place to work in college athletics.
The Leadership Development Institute is a nine-month comprehensive program open to athletic staff members who have three or more years of service and are looking to further develop leadership, strategic thinking, public speaking, and change management skills.
"The Leadership Development Institute creates a space for staff members to invest in themselves and provides them the support and tools needed to grow both personally and professionally," Josh Heird said. "With the guidance of Tiff Crooks, who continues to elevate the LDI program year after year, and the commitment from each mentor and guest speaker, our staff exits the program as better, stronger leaders."
The 2023-24 cohort consisted of: Ryan Tuttle, Taris Smith, Matt Pence, Alyssa Sconzo, Sam Robey, Bobby Blankenship, Amanda Roussin, Tiffany White, Tim Haag, Jenna Slotten, JB Allen, Michael Naperalsky, Derek Mueller, Kelsey Penebaker, Christina Peasley, Emily Spears, Evan Dyer and Russell Hill.
Throughout the nine months, participants are presented with learning opportunities designed to enhance self-awareness, self-management, and leadership skills while offering cross-functional and mentoring opportunities. LDI's goal is to best position staff members to find success in their current positions and, if desired, to earn and find success in advanced leadership positions.
"Providing staff the opportunity to focus on their own growth and development has paid massive dividends back to our department," Crooks, Director of Talent Development, said. "Many of our participants have acquired new leadership roles or are on the precipice of career advancement. Throughout the nine-months, it's inspiring to watch the growth in confidence and organizational awareness among all participants. In addition to the focused personal development, this program offers the unique opportunity to work cross-functionally to identify challenges and then design and present solutions meant to impact the overall success of the athletic department. This cohort really met the moment presenting actionable solutions to some of our more pressing internal and external challenges."
The cohort met once a month on various topics, engaging with and hearing speakers considered leaders in their space and successful in their professional paths. Some of the featured guest presenters and panelists in 2023-2024 were:
Dr. Meg Hancock, Associate Professor in Sport Administration, University of Louisville
Jody Bilney, Retired C-Suite Executive, Humana, Bloomin' Brands, Inc, Openwave Systems, Charles Schwab
Dr. Ryan Quinn, Academic Director, Project on Positive Leadership/Department Chair for Management and Entrepreneurship/Assistant Dean of Innovation & Strategy/Associate Professor, Entrepreneurship PhD
Amy Calabrese, Deputy Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator, University of Louisville
Laura Clemente, Senior Associate Athletic Director/Chief Revenue Officer, University of Louisville
Alan Kellogg, Retired Army Colonel, Associate Athletic Director for Administration and Internal Operations, University of Louisville
Josh Heird, Director of Athletics, University of Louisville
Robert E. Gunn Jr, Chief Equity and Impact Officer, Metro United Way
Dr. Katie Nichols, Director of Mental Performance, University of Louisville
Dan Meske, Associate Head Volleyball Coach, University of Louisville
Alyssa Murphy, Assistant Athletic Director Student-Athlete Leadership & Development, University of Louisville
During the nine-months, members work cross-functionally to develop solution-oriented presentations around various opportunities for improvement identified within the department. At the conclusion of the nine-months, groups presented findings to both Executive Team and to all staff.
This year's cohort focused on developing strategies for assessment of the health and performance unit, department-wide communication, student intern onboarding, scalability of season ticket member programming, and external professional development opportunities.
Led by Crooks, LDI was developed in 2019 to assist employees within the department with an initial goal of fostering personal and professional growth. Participants are assessed both pre and post-LDI. For the second consecutive year, the cohort showed measurable gains in all surveyed areas, highlighted by considerable growth in the following areas: overall leadership skills, public speaking skills, comfort in speaking about identities of self and other, conflict management, and career path clarity.
Feedback from the 2023-24 Cohort:
I've been able to recognize more quickly various communication & problem-solving styles which is VITAL to the role I play within our department. Digital marketing touches as many as four to five different stakeholders at a time, and LDI has given me the confidence to speak confidently about my area of expertise while actively working to find solutions that work for all of those different parties. Personally, it's given me an outlet to navigate the life transition of becoming a mom and expanded my village to feel supported. I can't stress enough how vital that has been to my overall well-being as a professional and as a person. - Amanda Roussin, Assistant Director of Digital Marketing
(I developed) more self-clarification of what I want out of my career and the confidence to speak in a space I used to think I did not have the space to do so in. - Taris Smith, Staff Photographer
I feel 10x more confident in my ability to public speak in front of large groups which I think trickles down to my ability to talk in small groups and even 1on1's! - JB Allen, Video Creative Director
I am a better version of myself because of this. It helped me grow and gain confidence in who I am and what I want/what I am doing/what I am capable of. I am so grateful for the opportunity. - Tim Haag, Graphic Designer
LDI was incredibly valuable for me. As a support staff member who "lives in a different world" than many of our administrators and other non-athlete-facing staff, LDI directly connected me with people I otherwise wouldn't interact with. The speakers were excellent, the content was thoughtful, and our group project has direct impact on my area at work. - Michael Naperalsky, Former Assistant Director/Sports Performance, Current Director of Strength & Conditioning for Olympic Sports at Iowa State University
The Leadership Development Institute is a nine-month comprehensive program open to athletic staff members who have three or more years of service and are looking to further develop leadership, strategic thinking, public speaking, and change management skills.
"The Leadership Development Institute creates a space for staff members to invest in themselves and provides them the support and tools needed to grow both personally and professionally," Josh Heird said. "With the guidance of Tiff Crooks, who continues to elevate the LDI program year after year, and the commitment from each mentor and guest speaker, our staff exits the program as better, stronger leaders."
The 2023-24 cohort consisted of: Ryan Tuttle, Taris Smith, Matt Pence, Alyssa Sconzo, Sam Robey, Bobby Blankenship, Amanda Roussin, Tiffany White, Tim Haag, Jenna Slotten, JB Allen, Michael Naperalsky, Derek Mueller, Kelsey Penebaker, Christina Peasley, Emily Spears, Evan Dyer and Russell Hill.
Throughout the nine months, participants are presented with learning opportunities designed to enhance self-awareness, self-management, and leadership skills while offering cross-functional and mentoring opportunities. LDI's goal is to best position staff members to find success in their current positions and, if desired, to earn and find success in advanced leadership positions.
"Providing staff the opportunity to focus on their own growth and development has paid massive dividends back to our department," Crooks, Director of Talent Development, said. "Many of our participants have acquired new leadership roles or are on the precipice of career advancement. Throughout the nine-months, it's inspiring to watch the growth in confidence and organizational awareness among all participants. In addition to the focused personal development, this program offers the unique opportunity to work cross-functionally to identify challenges and then design and present solutions meant to impact the overall success of the athletic department. This cohort really met the moment presenting actionable solutions to some of our more pressing internal and external challenges."
The cohort met once a month on various topics, engaging with and hearing speakers considered leaders in their space and successful in their professional paths. Some of the featured guest presenters and panelists in 2023-2024 were:
Dr. Meg Hancock, Associate Professor in Sport Administration, University of Louisville
Jody Bilney, Retired C-Suite Executive, Humana, Bloomin' Brands, Inc, Openwave Systems, Charles Schwab
Dr. Ryan Quinn, Academic Director, Project on Positive Leadership/Department Chair for Management and Entrepreneurship/Assistant Dean of Innovation & Strategy/Associate Professor, Entrepreneurship PhD
Amy Calabrese, Deputy Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator, University of Louisville
Laura Clemente, Senior Associate Athletic Director/Chief Revenue Officer, University of Louisville
Alan Kellogg, Retired Army Colonel, Associate Athletic Director for Administration and Internal Operations, University of Louisville
Josh Heird, Director of Athletics, University of Louisville
Robert E. Gunn Jr, Chief Equity and Impact Officer, Metro United Way
Dr. Katie Nichols, Director of Mental Performance, University of Louisville
Dan Meske, Associate Head Volleyball Coach, University of Louisville
Alyssa Murphy, Assistant Athletic Director Student-Athlete Leadership & Development, University of Louisville
During the nine-months, members work cross-functionally to develop solution-oriented presentations around various opportunities for improvement identified within the department. At the conclusion of the nine-months, groups presented findings to both Executive Team and to all staff.
This year's cohort focused on developing strategies for assessment of the health and performance unit, department-wide communication, student intern onboarding, scalability of season ticket member programming, and external professional development opportunities.
Led by Crooks, LDI was developed in 2019 to assist employees within the department with an initial goal of fostering personal and professional growth. Participants are assessed both pre and post-LDI. For the second consecutive year, the cohort showed measurable gains in all surveyed areas, highlighted by considerable growth in the following areas: overall leadership skills, public speaking skills, comfort in speaking about identities of self and other, conflict management, and career path clarity.
Feedback from the 2023-24 Cohort:
I've been able to recognize more quickly various communication & problem-solving styles which is VITAL to the role I play within our department. Digital marketing touches as many as four to five different stakeholders at a time, and LDI has given me the confidence to speak confidently about my area of expertise while actively working to find solutions that work for all of those different parties. Personally, it's given me an outlet to navigate the life transition of becoming a mom and expanded my village to feel supported. I can't stress enough how vital that has been to my overall well-being as a professional and as a person. - Amanda Roussin, Assistant Director of Digital Marketing
(I developed) more self-clarification of what I want out of my career and the confidence to speak in a space I used to think I did not have the space to do so in. - Taris Smith, Staff Photographer
I feel 10x more confident in my ability to public speak in front of large groups which I think trickles down to my ability to talk in small groups and even 1on1's! - JB Allen, Video Creative Director
I am a better version of myself because of this. It helped me grow and gain confidence in who I am and what I want/what I am doing/what I am capable of. I am so grateful for the opportunity. - Tim Haag, Graphic Designer
LDI was incredibly valuable for me. As a support staff member who "lives in a different world" than many of our administrators and other non-athlete-facing staff, LDI directly connected me with people I otherwise wouldn't interact with. The speakers were excellent, the content was thoughtful, and our group project has direct impact on my area at work. - Michael Naperalsky, Former Assistant Director/Sports Performance, Current Director of Strength & Conditioning for Olympic Sports at Iowa State University
MBB: Highlights vs Eastern Michigan
Tuesday, November 25
Pat Kelsey Postgame Presser vs. Eastern Michigan 11.24.25
Tuesday, November 25
Aly Khalifa, Isaac McKneely, and Adrian Wooley Postgame Presser 11.24 vs. Eastern Michigan
Tuesday, November 25
Dan Meske Presser 11.24.25
Monday, November 24
