News
Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute at the Wilder School announces VCU Leadership Development Program Class of 2022
by Valena Dixon
The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute of the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs welcomes 29 enrollees for its 2022 class of the VCU Leadership Development Program. The VCU Leadership Development Program is a 10-month program designed to enhance the knowledge, skills and experience of current and emerging leaders who represent the academic and administrative units of the university and the VCU Health system. During the program, participants learn about VCU’s strategies and leadership, address both state and national issues in higher education, examine their leadership strengths and challenges, meet with a mentor from senior administration and faculty, and immerse themselves in team projects for the benefit of the university.
Nakeina E. Douglas-Glenn, Ph. D., director of the leadership institute and interim director of the Research Institute for Social Equity shared, “We are excited to welcome the 22nd class and look forward to working with this cohort of talented and committed leaders who are eager to expand their professional development and continue to make their mark on VCU. This year’s class joins an accomplished group of alumni, many of whom continue to make significant contributions throughout VCU.”
Melyatta Powers, director of finance, School of the Arts, and Class of 2022 member stated, “I am most excited about the mentor matching provided. Having an established leader serve as a mentor will hopefully allow me to ‘lean in’ and gain insights as I look to grow in this next phase of my career.”
Her enthusiasm was matched by classmate Nick Langlie, director of Academic Technology, School of Pharmacy, who offered, “I am looking forward to making close and lasting contacts while meeting others looking to improve and advance in leadership roles at VCU!”
These sentiments were echoed by John Quillin, associate professor, Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, who shared, “I am looking forward to building new relationships with my project team, my mentor, and my collaborative group. Then, by understanding the current history and strengths of VCU as a transformative urban university, I hope to leverage these and future relationships, even in small ways, to help VCU realize its vision of success and well-being for students, patients, faculty, staff, and the Richmond community.”
The VCU Leadership Development Program kicked off with a two-day leadership session held on January 20 and 21 and will continue with a monthly schedule of programming and will end in October. The program culminates with team presentations that will showcase the comprehensive research and work of the participants on October 14, 2022.
Here are the members of the VCU Leadership Development Program Class of 2022:
Sam Ali, Senior Accountant, University Controllers’ Office
Rami Ammoun, Assistant Professor, Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry
Kayla Anderson, Contract and Research Administrator, Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation
Alex Ashe, Assistant Director of Research Integrity and Ethics, Office of the Vice President for Research
Jill Butler, Online MSW Field Coordinator, School of Social Work
Alberto Cano, Associate Professor, Engineering Research, College of Engineering
Harmeet Chiang, Associate Professor, General Practice, School of Dentistry
Amita Chin, Associate Professor, Information Systems, School of Business
Dwayne Cooper, Manager of VCU Transportation Administration, VCU Health
Elizabeth Fredericksen-Trent, Division Administrator, School of Medicine
Leigh Anne Gravatt, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science, School of Pharmacy
Catherine Ham, Assistant Professor, Director VCU Headache Clinic, VCU Health
Mazhar Kanak, Assistant Professor Department of Surgery Transplant, VCU Health
Carly Katz, Senior Director of Federal Relations, Office of Government Relations
Margaret Kidd, Access and Electronic Records Archivist, VCU Libraries
Nick Langlie, Director of Academic Technology, School of Pharmacy
Parth Madurantakam, Associate Professor, General Practice, School of Dentistry
Marlo Marshall-Brown, Systems Engineer, VCU Health
Hannah Miller, Pediatric Fellow, Children’s Hospital of Richmond
Tiffany Murray-Robertson, Associate Director of Communications and External Relations, L. Douglas Wilder School and Government and Public Affairs
Melyatta Powers, Director of Finance, School of the Arts
Bridget Prince, Assistant Director of Academic Coaching, Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Successes
John Quillin, Associate Professor, Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine
Ingrid Redway, Associate Director of Radiology Nursing and Interventional Services, VCU Health
Angela Reynolds, Associate Professor Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, College of Humanities and Sciences
Matthew Scott, Assistant Professor, and Director Kinesiology and Health Sciences, College of Humanities and Sciences
Maria Teves, Assistant Professor Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine
Erin Wilson, Special Assistant to the Dean, School of Education
Anita Yearwood, Senior Director, DAR Events, Office of Development and Alumni Relations
For more information, contact Nakeina E. Douglas-Glenn, director, The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute at nedouglas@vcu.edu or 804-827-1169.
The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute of The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs was established in May 1999 by the Board of Visitors at Virginia Commonwealth University in honor of Grace E. Harris, Ph.D., upon her retirement from the position of provost and vice president for academic affairs. Harris served the university for more than 40 years in the roles of faculty member, dean, vice provost, provost and vice president for academic affairs, and acting president, becoming the highest-ranking woman and highest-ranking African American in VCU’s history. Following her retirement as provost, Harris served as a distinguished professor in the Center for Public Policy and led The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute.