Staff Professional Development Conference
Agenda
Level Up AU
Elevating Skills, Strengthening Culture, Driving Impact
We have a slate of dynamic and informative speakers who will inspire you to better serve in your day-to-day staff role. The AU Staff Council hopes you are enriched and renewed after attending this conference.
Quick Facts
- Registration required
- Conference Date: May 13, 2026
- Kicks off at 9:30 a.m. (Check-in at 9)
- Light refreshments and lunch provided
- Breaks built in
Morning
Speaker schedule subject to change
9:00 - 9:30 a.m.
Check-in
location-dot icon J. Harold Harrison, MD Education Commons, Room GB 1220A
Coffee and pastries will be served.
9:30 – 9:45 a.m.
Welcome Message
user icon Cynthia Beard, Chair, Staff Council
user icon Laura Evans, Chair-Elect, Staff Council
location-dot icon J. Harold Harrison, MD Education Commons, Room GB 1220A
9:45 – 10:45 a.m.
Keynote- Leading with Brilliance and Civility: Building a Culture That Sustains Us All
user icon Patrice Buckner Jackson, EdD
location-dot icon J. Harold Harrison, MD Education Commons, Room GB 1220A
Workplace culture is shaped by people's interactions, assumptions, and daily behaviors across every role and function of the university. In a fast-paced environment, sustainable excellence requires more than productivity; it demands self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and intentional connection. In this keynote, Dr. Patrice Buckner Jackson invites participants to reflect on their wellbeing, recognize their personal brilliance, and lead from a place of authenticity. The session also challenges participants to examine how everyday communication and actions either strengthen or strain workplace culture, empowering them to help create an environment where people and performance thrive together.
11:00 a.m.– 12:00 p.m.
Leading at Every Level: How Staff Shape Culture and Impact
user icon Stacy Roberts, DBA, Lecturer, Hull College of Business
location-dot icon J. Harold Harrison, MD Education Commons, Room GB 1220A
Leadership is not defined by title but by influence. This session explores how AU staff can intentionally shape workplace culture through everyday actions, communication, and collaboration. Participants will learn practical strategies to lead from where they are, strengthen team dynamics, and contribute to a culture that drives meaningful impact across the university.
Afternoon
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Powering Down to Level Up
user icon Eric Toler, Executive Director, Georgia Cyber Innovation & Training Center
location-dot icon J. Harold Harrison, MD Education Commons, Room GB 1220A
Staff effort is critical to mission success; the process, meaning, and value proposition of empowerment; and the urgency to collaborate. Additionally, it will describe how to turn challenges into opportunities and how to think big but execute with precision, using actual examples from the Georgia Cyber Center.
Conflict Resolution
user icon Angela Landers, Program Director, USG's Office of Leadership & Institutional Development
location-dot icon J. Harold Harrison, MD Education Commons, Room GB 1120D
This session dives in with identifying one’s current style of conflict response and then leads participants into exploring the basic components of conflict in the workplace. Strategies and actionable skills for resolving conflict are discussed.
Breakout Sessions
2:15 – 3:15 p.m.
Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
user icon Za'Cuan McNeil, Learning and Development Coordinator, Office of Institutional Access, Success, and Belonging
location-dot icon J. Harold Harrison, MD Education Commons, Room GB 1220A
This session is an introduction to the Emotional Intelligence model. It provides a framework to enhance your capacity to understand and navigate the complexities of the workplace using Emotional Intelligence.
Participates of this session will receive credit towards the ASB Certificate Program.
Unmasking the Expert: Navigating Imposter Syndrome in Professional Roles
user icon Morgan Davis, MS, NBC-HWC, Director, Student Wellbeing
user icon Annie Carr, MPH, Coordinator, Student Wellbeing
location-dot icon J. Harold Harrison, MD Education Commons, Room GB 1120D
Even high-achieving professionals can feel like they don’t quite belong. This session explores imposter syndrome as a shared, and often hidden, experience among faculty and staff. Participants will unpack common thought patterns, workplace influences, and the quiet pressures that fuel self-doubt. Through reflection and practical exercises, attendees will learn how to reframe unhelpful internal narratives, navigate perfectionism, and build more accurate, supportive self-talk.
Closing Remarks
3:30 – 3:45 p.m.
Closing Remarks from President Keen
user icon Russell T. Keen, EdD, President of »Æ¹Ï¶ÌÊÓƵ
location-dot icon J. Harold Harrison, MD Education Commons, Room GB 1220A
