The fifth cohort of the Student Affairs Leadership Academy began in February of 2026 and had 10 participants. Topics included professional networking, authentic leadership, self-care, and power and persuasion, in addition to meeting and hearing from Mayor Frank Scott. The cohort is developing an AI-driven Empathy & De-escalation Training Portal, where professional staff and student employees can eventually practice vital communication skills with interactive AI bots.
Participants
- Alicia Sustiata, Student Experience Center
- Brenna Sullivan, Admissions
- Cambri Hutchinson, Admissions
- Carrie Jones, Military Student Success
- Connie Borromeo, Counseling Services
- Donald Leonard, Admissions
- Dukeithius Paskel, Admissions
- Keirsten Lee, Health Services
- Lauren Black, Student Experience Center
- Tosha Aleck, Campus Living
Educational Sessions
Worldchanging 101, presented by Sharon Ann Downs
Many people think the goal of leadership is to be in charge of others. Leadership is much more than your position in an organization. Knowing how your specific personality traits impact interactions with others can help you lead others throughout your spheres of influence.
Personal Networking Strategies and Relationship-Driven Networking, presented by Edie Stewart
This session focused on the power of relationship-driven networking, emphasizing that authentic professional connections are built over time through trust, patience, and mutual respect. Rather than relying on transactional interactions or focusing solely on job titles, professionals should lead with value and proactively offer support, mentorship, or introductions to create a resilient and diverse network ecosystem. Ultimately, successful networking requires consistent, thoughtful communication and intentional, permission-based introductions to foster shared success without relationship burnout.
Time for Another Look at Self Care, presented by Greg Adams
Sustainable self-care for professionals exposed to human suffering was presented as requiring a shift from individual fixes to intentionality and organizational culture change. It was stressed that self-care alone could not compensate for unsustainable workloads. The session promoted moving beyond draining empathy to motivating compassion , encouraging the adoption of “marathon intentionality”—including planning, pacing, and support —and reframing personal health as an ethical responsibility. The core message emphasized the need for a supportive, accountable “microculture” to prevent burnout and sustain effective care.
My Story, presented by Mayor Frank Scott
A presentation by Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott about his journey in leadership.
Authentic Leadership on Campus: Driving real Connection through Radical Candor, by Kristen McIntyre
Authentic leadership looks like understanding our purpose, practicing consistent values, leading with heart, and listening to contradictory opinions, all of which develop trust. Radical Candor (Kim Scott’s work) was covered in the discussion, which encourages challenging people directly while also showing that you care about them personally.
People, Politics, and Influence: Leading from the Middle Without Losing Yourself, by Mia Phillips
The presentation outlined the power of relationship-driven networking, emphasizing that authentic professional connections are built over time through trust, patience, and mutual respect. Rather than relying on transactional interactions or focusing solely on job titles, professionals should lead with value and proactively offer support, resources, or introductions to create a resilient and diverse network ecosystem. Ultimately, successful networking requires consistent, thoughtful communication and intentional, permission-based actions to foster shared success without relationship burnout.
Feedback from Participants
- Having a better understanding of empathy vs compassion along with the new information Mr. Adams highlighted will (hopefully) allow me to slow down, pace myself, and set a plan so that I am better able to assist. Oh, I’ve already ordered Kitchen Table Wisdom! Thank you, Sharon, for all that goes into these sessions!
- So far, I have really enjoyed the Leadership Academy experience. I think it has been very informative, engaging, and helpful for professional development. I appreciate that the sessions include real-life experiences, interactive activities, and opportunities to hear different leadership perspectives. I also enjoy being able to connect and collaborate with people from different departments across campus. It has helped me think more about leadership, communication, and how I can continue growing professionally.
- I have really enjoyed the Leadership Academy so far. Each session has provided something different that I can apply to my work, and I appreciate hearing from different presenters. I also enjoy getting to meet people from across campus and learn from their experiences.
- I’ve really enjoyed it, especially the development of professional relationships. We are so often stuck in our “silos” and it’s beneficial to make professional connections on campus.
- I SUPER appreciate that we did introductions via email before meeting in person. One of the first slides that talked about putting phones on DND really set the tone for the “vibe” of the cohort and a safe sharing space.
- Love it. I thoroughly enjoy the collaboration, the speakers, and professional development. I’ll miss it when it’s over.
- I love it more each time we meet. Perhaps our cohort is getting more comfortable with each other or we appreciate doing something different in the day. Thank you for making it an enjoyable learning experience!