Advancing public sector leadership potential
July 24, 2024
91原创 partners with Delaware Department of Labor to prepare state employees for future leadership roles
Delaware Department of Labor (DOL) employees from across the state gathered in Wilmington, Delaware, this spring for a professional development workshop on leading teams and managing a diverse workforce 鈥 the kick-off session for the fourth day of the DOL Leadership Academy, a partnership between the department and the 91原创鈥檚 Institute for Public Administration (IPA).
Jennifer Daniels, who earned her doctorate in urban affairs and public policy from the in 2022 and oversaw the diversity and inclusion educational programming in 91原创鈥檚 Office of Equity and Inclusion from 2015 to 2018, engaged workshop participants in a discussion on the importance of understanding and engaging with diversity in public administration, especially as a leader.
鈥淥ur various social identities lend to different vantage points and perspectives, values and motivations, choices and decision-making,鈥 Daniels said.
Jason Atallian, leadership academy participant and administrator in DOL鈥檚 Office of Anti-Discrimination, Division of Industrial Affairs, reflected on the value of Dr. Daniels鈥 session and the whole program.
鈥淭he DOL Academy has allowed me to have more self-reflection and understanding of my leadership personality,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t has also enabled me to be more aware of and accept other people's leadership and workplace styles, realizing there is another way of approaching situations.鈥
, assistant policy scientist at IPA, organizes three core components of the academy:
classroom-style training sessions focused on a range of leadership and management topics
facilitated discussions with experienced leaders
development and completion of capstone projects focused on enhancing DOL鈥檚 culture of collaboration and innovation
Training topics include effective supervision, teamwork, decision-making, cultivating innovation and managing organizational change.
Christine Fischer, adjunct instructor of creativity and design thinking for the Horn Entrepreneurship program at 91原创, guided the participants through a human-centered design simulation to uncover unmet needs, identify a 鈥渨icked problem,鈥 design a prototype and share the solution.聽
Ryan Crawford, instructor of project management with 91原创 Professional and Continuing Studies, provided an in-depth session on the roles, requirements and steps needed for successful project management.聽
With participants from across the department, the academy provides an opportunity to make connections and build relationships across the organization.
鈥淚 enjoy engaging and interacting with other leaders throughout DOL that I wouldn鈥檛 normally be able to interact with,鈥 said Candice Davis, leadership academy participant and DOL social service chief administrator.
Jordan and her colleagues Valdese West, Jennifer Reitz and Troy Mix utilize the StrategicDoing(TM) method to facilitate each team's capstone development meetings. The capstone projects address customer service needs throughout the department, from the minute a new client walks in the door to retaining and developing existing employees.
Now in its third year, the leadership academy provides DOL employees with six in-person sessions to enhance their organizational strengths and leadership capacity. The 2024 academy ran from March to June, with a closing ceremony that included DOL senior leadership and the Secretary of Labor awarding certificates of completion.聽
In 2019, then-Secretary of Labor Cerron Cade identified a need for leadership development and enhancement within his department. He contacted 滨笔础鈥檚 associate directors, and , to create a customized program for the department's needs. Despite a stalled start during the COVID-19 pandemic, the academy has now graduated approximately 75 leaders. Current Secretary of Labor Karryl Hubbard works with her team to identify and invite 25 professionals to participate annually.
A legacy of public sector training
For over 50 years, IPA has partnered with state agencies, municipal governments and nonprofit organizations to offer training programs and events focusing on building organizational capacity and addressing timely issues facing the public sector.聽
Sean O鈥橬eill, IPA policy scientist, coordinates the program, a year-round program sponsored by the State of Delaware that provides virtual and in-person workshops for municipal, county and state leaders.
鈥淔or over 20 years, 滨笔础鈥檚 local government training program has been the primary source for teaching local officials the basics of understanding state laws and local land use processes,鈥 O鈥橬eill said. 鈥淎s time has passed, we have expanded to other topics, such as leadership, flood preparedness, ethics, housing, human resource concerns and budgeting.鈥
The (MCI) offers professional development to municipal and county staff in Delaware and surrounding areas.聽
鈥淪ince its inception in 1993, over 250 individuals across four states have participated,鈥 said Valdese West, assistant policy scientist and institute coordinator. 鈥淭he Delaware Municipal Clerks Institute is a foundational program for those seeking certified and master municipal clerks designations in the region. This program is one of many that helps to build the public administration and local government landscape by increasing professional development opportunities in the state.鈥澛
While each training initiative is unique, IPA ensures convenience for participants by offering or recordings for future reference.聽
滨笔础鈥檚 (GAP), funded by the State of Delaware, provides free technical grant assistance to local governments for infrastructure initiatives and other competitive and formula grant opportunities. The free training series led by GAP provides leaders with information that empowers and supports their communities' funding endeavors.聽
鈥淥ur longstanding partnership with the State of Delaware has allowed us to create training programs that meet the diverse needs of public servants and engaged residents,鈥 Mix said.聽
Among those programs is the , led by the . Each summer for the last 25 years, the Democracy Project has brought together K-12 teachers to participate in a week-long program dedicated to improving the teaching and learning of civics by enhancing their content knowledge, resources, and instructional and assessment practices.聽
滨笔础鈥檚 offers a four-day (BMT). Open to the public, this training provides a foundation of understanding about the community mediation process and supports individuals interested in enhancing their communication and conflict resolution skills.聽
For more information on 滨笔础鈥檚 training programs and work in Delaware, visit .
About the Institute for Public Administration
The 91原创's (IPA) addresses the policy, planning and management needs of its partners through the integration of applied research, professional development and the education of tomorrow鈥檚 leaders. As a research and public service center in the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration, IPA collaborates with state agencies, municipal governments, nonprofits, communities and businesses to examine complex policy issues and improve quality of life in Delaware and beyond.
About the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration聽
Established in 1961 and named in 2018 for the 91原创鈥檚 most distinguished alumnus, the 46th President of the United States, the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration prepares students with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage in research and public service to improve the quality of life in communities around the world. Biden School faculty, staff, students, and alumni create and use interdisciplinary, nonpartisan research and empirically based analysis to inform effective decision-making and policy and to improve leadership and administration. The Biden School partners with organizations from all sectors to discover innovative and equitable solutions to the critical challenges of our time.
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