UC ANR launches Leadership Academy

The new ANR Leadership Academy has 20 participants.

The first UC ANR Leadership Academy has been launched with a cohort of 20 ANR members. The program, which is being conducted in collaboration with Coro Northern California, held the first of its 10 sessions in August and just finished the sixth session. The participants will graduate during the final session on Feb. 25 at UC ANR's Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center.

“We hope this academy will provide UC ANR academics and staff with critical leadership tools to apply in their current roles, grow in leadership roles, or move up in the organization,” said Daniel Obrist, vice provost for academic personnel and development, who worked with Linda Marie Manton, emeritus UC Cooperative Extension advisor and former executive director for Staff Personnel, and Coro to develop the training.

"The UC ANR-Coro Leadership Academy's experiential learning program empowers participants to grow their leadership skills through dynamic, hands-on learning that equips them to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in their fields,” said Grace Turkis of Coro, who is facilitating the training. “By engaging in real-world, applied experiences, participants deepen their capacity to lead with resilience, creativity and a commitment to impactful change."

Lindsay Pedroncelli, JoLynn Miller (seated) and George Zhuang work with Kimberly Sinclair-Holmeson an activity called "Circle of Knowledge," where they highlight what they know, what they know they don't know, and what they don't know that they don't know about a given topic.

In the academy, participants engage in role-play exercises, pairs discussions, small group discussions, large group discussions, peer coaching and group activities.

"Coro's leadership tools help participants grow through a framework designed to lead inward, outward and forward,” said Turkis. “By fostering self-awareness, critical thinking and inclusion, Coro supports leaders in strengthening their communication skills and building collaborative influence. This approach equips them to navigate complex challenges with purpose and resilience.”

The concepts of leading inward, outward and forward can include deepening self-awareness (e.g., exploring one's values), critical thinking (e.g., challenging oneself to consider where our assumptions come from), inclusion (e.g., being cognizant of one's agency and circle of influence when leading), communication (e.g., being able to tell a narrative about one's value-add), influence (e.g., understanding people's drivers to enact change), and collaboration (e.g., working with people who have different styles and preferences to put the best thinking forward).

We asked a few participants for their thoughts about the training.

Why did you decide to participate in the ANR Leadership Academy?

Steven Worker, 4-H youth development advisor: I decided to participate in the ANR Leadership Academy to enhance my leadership abilities related to my role as the Strategic Initiative Leader for Healthy Families and Communities. I believe this program will help me in three key areas: bringing together academics in the HFC space, improving my ability to lead without formal power, and becoming a stronger advocate in meetings and collaborative efforts. This opportunity will also allow me to build relationships with emerging leaders who will shape the future of ANR in the coming decades.

Devii Rao, UCCE livestock and natural resources advisor:I was hired on as a livestock and natural resources advisor in 2015. Over the past nine years since I've been with UC ANR, I've been asked to be county director once and interim county director three times, covering a total of more than five years. In addition, as I've grown in my career as an advisor, I have taken on the role of being the chair of committees both inside and outside of UC ANR. I anticipate continuing to take on leadership roles with increased complexity. I've never thought of myself as a leader and have never had any formal leadership training. So when I heard about the UC ANR Leadership Academy, I jumped at the chance to learn how to more clearly think about leadership, what it means, and how to make better decisions as a leader.

John Bailey, director of UC Hopland Research and Extension Center: Having been in a leadership position at UCANR for over seven years, first as the HREC Superintendent and then as the first administrative (as opposed to academic) REC Director, this was the first official leadership training opened to me. Operating in the complex situation of our large institution, and focusing on issues in agriculture and natural resources that have stakeholders with dramatically different perspectives, I was feeling the need to improve my leadership skill sets. While I have been in leadership positions in private industry and nonprofits, the UC is a very different environment with large flows of information, complex and nuanced conversations, and a complicated set of rules and relationships in which we operate, I wanted to learn a skill set that UC leadership felt was worthwhile and focused on developing the type of leaders needed for our organization.

Aliasghar Montazar, UCCE irrigation and water management advisor: I have been an irrigation and water management advisor in southern California since 2017. Over these past years within UC ANR, I've held several leadership roles, including the president of the Academic Assembly Council and chairing various committees both within ANR and across different campuses. Prior to joining UC, I held the position of chairing the Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering at my former university.

Although I've held several leadership roles throughout my academic career, I have never had the opportunity to participate in a leadership academy or undergo formal training. I often find myself questioning how my leadership and decision-making might have evolved over the years if I had pursued that kind of education. This leadership academy arrived at an ideal moment for me, offering the chance to learn from both my peers and the program itself to enhance my leadership skills. It also challenges me to seek answers to crucial questions that could significantly boost my future performance.

Sarah-Mae Nelson, UC Climate Stewards Initiative academic coordinator: I was hired in 2019 by the UC Environmental Stewards program to be the Climate Stewards Academic Coordinator – developing and leading a statewide climate change education, outreach and service course. Since launching the class in September 2020, we have certified over 1,000 Stewards across California and have begun extending our reach as the Climate Stewards course is being taken up by other states. As my programmatic leadership role expands, I wanted to connect with other leaders within UC ANR to increase collaboration and grow the impact of our climate-centered course.

In the academy, participants engage in role-play exercises, pairs discussions, small group discussions, large group discussions, peer coaching and group activities.

What do you think of it so far?

Worker: So far, I think the Leadership Academy is a great opportunity to grow professionally. It feels relevant, especially with everything I'm working on across healthy families and communities as connected with the new ANR Vision 2040. The Coro facilitator, Grace, is knowledgeable, patient, and skillful in helping me – and all of us – gain practical insights and some deeper reflection on how to navigate challenges in leadership roles.

Rao: So far, I've been really pleased with the Leadership Academy. It has been great meeting colleagues I would never have met otherwise. I've benefited from learning about others who have similar challenges to me and who I may be able to connect with outside of the leadership academy to brainstorm solutions. Participating is giving me space and time to focus on a leadership project that I'm excited about and would not have known how to begin without the support of the Leadership Academy. I have also learned about specific tools that can help me understand why I think the way I do and help me re-focus in a way that will be more productive.

Bailey: This is a very worthwhile training academy. I appreciate the mixture of both the solid skills and tools being taught and the network of other people within ANR that operate in different fields or areas. The facilitators/trainers seem to be skilled in both the specific topics and in guiding a diverse group through various conversations. The tools we are being taught are a mixture of practical skills like developing effective meeting agendas as well as mental tools that can help a person in a leadership position to ensure their decisions are well founded in both facts and a variety of qualitative information. I also like that the program allows opportunities to use the tools and professional network to focus on real issues confronting the participants.

Montazar: We are currently midway through the program, and I've thoroughly enjoyed every moment of the leadership academy. The diverse group of colleagues creates a supportive and enriching environment, allowing us to learn from one another. I've already gained several valuable tools and eagerly anticipate discovering more that will enhance my future leadership capabilities.

Nelson: It's been wonderful to connect with other growing leaders within UC ANR – many of whom have years more experience within UC than myself. I also had the opportunity to participate in the UC Women's Initiative a few years ago, and this has been a great chance to build on and further apply the tools I learned through that training.

For colleagues considering participating in the next academy, what should they know about it?

Worker: The ANR-Coro Leadership Academy uses an experiential approach to leadership development. Participants engage in interactive learning through group challenges, interviews, and discussions. The program focuses on deepening self-awareness, improving interpersonal communication, and enhancing the ability to analyze and address complex organizational issues. Building connection to colleagues has been valuable, creating a cohort of emerging ANR leaders. The Academy's Coro approach uses an Inward, Outward, Forward framework that supports participants in reflecting on their own leadership style, engage with diverse perspectives, and move forward on initiatives that contribute to shaping the future of UC ANR. The combination of in-person and virtual sessions allowed for a dynamic learning experience.

Rao: For colleagues considering participating in the next academy, I say, “Do it!” It has been a great experience so far, with lots of opportunities to practice practical skills that will help me grow as a person and as a leader. It's fun, too!

Bailey: This is a valuable academy. You will learn practical skills for your work in ANR, do work on actual projects of your choosing, and develop relationships with people from across ANR with whom you might not interact otherwise.

While the in-person start to the Academy was a wonderful introduction to the program and people, and I look forward to the final session which will also be in-person, I do find the five- or six-hour Zoom meetings to be tiring. It makes developing relationships with other participants a little more difficult than in an in-person session and it can be difficult to maintain the same level of attention in the afternoon hours. However, overall, I really like it and feel like I am building my skills and network.

Montazar: I encourage my colleagues to consider participating in the next academy, even if they aren't currently pursuing a leadership role. My own journey into leadership has been serendipitous, shaped by unexpected opportunities rather than prior aspirations. The opportunities could arise unexpectedly and we need to be prepared with leadership skills in both professional and personal settings.

Nelson: The academy is a fabulous way to connect more deeply with UC ANR colleagues while learning ways to improve your leadership skills and have a chance to apply that learning through real-time, in-class activities. It's a big-time commitment over five months, so make sure to prepare your calendar adequately. :)

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