Faculty and staff at Daemen University now have a new resource for learning opportunities, educational experiences, and networking events with colleagues, all aimed at enhancing connections among members of the campus community.
A new Staff Development Committee was created over the past year by Laura Azzarella, Associate Vice President of Employee Engagement, and Amanda Gross, Chief of Staff in the Office of the President, based on feedback from faculty members and university staff. According to Azzarella, the new Committee was formed in response to requests for more professional development opportunities and a desire by staff members to learn more about other departments and activities on campus.
“The purpose of the Committee is actually threefold – to provide access to access to new ideas and concepts for professional development; to inform the Daemen community on what other departments are doing to achieve the university’s mission; and, perhaps most important, to give faculty and staff an outlet for interacting and strengthening relationships with their colleagues,” Azzarella explains. “Our goal is to inform, educate and connect community members through events, presentations, and workshops from Daemen cabinet members, faculty, and other guest speakers.”
With the help of with the help of Daemen’s Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, the Staff Development Committee is currently scheduling events and presentations on campus for the third Wednesday of each month from noon to 1:30 pm. Recent events sponsored by the Committee include a guest speaker who presented on understanding and improving emotional intelligence for professional growth, and a presentation by a human resources professional on utilizing LinkedIn to build meaningful connections and portray an authentic, professional profile.
“We receive plenty of requests for presentations on topics ranging from leadership development to strategies for encountering difficult situations,” Azzarella adds. “We continually change things up to give faculty and staff members diverse experiences to help with professional growth and opportunities to learn more about Daemen from one another.”
All Daemen faculty and staff are encouraged to attend the Staff Development Committee events. Pre-registration is not necessary, and more information is available from the Office of Employee Engagement, (716) 839-8325.