Contact: Jim Laird

STARKVILLE, Miss.--A dozen Mississippi State staff members are new graduates of the university’s Leadership Excellence for Accomplished Professionals program for 2016.

LEAP’s goals and purpose include the advancement of knowledge, enhancement of leadership skills, and direct practical work application for selected employees.

During the four-month program, participants met with campus and community leaders in various areas to explore and develop their leadership skills to more effectively lead MSU’s efforts. Conflict resolution and decision-making, managing change, effective team building and employee performance management were among session topics.

“The LEAP program is designed to help participants maximize their leadership potential and hone communication skills,” said Darrell Easley, learning and development manager for MSU’s human resources management department.

Mississippi State President Mark E. Keenum delivered the keynote address during the recent graduation luncheon at The Mill at MSU. He encouraged the graduates to be life-long learners and to work hard and apply the lessons they learned in the program.

“We need and value the talent, energy and ideas that each one of you brings to Mississippi State and to our community,” Keenum said.

Chosen through a competitive nomination and selection process, this year’s LEAP graduates are:

-- Phillip Akers, senior research engineer, Distributed Analytics and Security Institute.

-- Amanda Baine, business manager II, Office of the Graduate School.

-- Becky Bassett, senior grants and contacts administrator, Office of Sponsored Projects.

-- Katie Corban, marketing and communications manager, Division of Student Affairs.

-- Ashley Gillespie, contracts and grants specialist, FWRC/MAFES.

-- Jennifer McPherson, senior auditor, Office of Internal Audit.

-- Chris Pulliam, project manager, Office of Planning, Design and Construction Administration.

-- Renata Roberts, academic coordinator/lecturer, Business Academic Advising.

-- Janna Sanford, associate director of gift administration, MSU Foundation.

-- Natalie Smith, contract and grants specialist, Bagley College of Engineering.

-- Cat Walker, director of parent/student services, Dean of Students.

-- Cheryl Woody, business manager, Institute for Computational Research in Engineering and Science.

For additional information about LEAP, visit www.hrm.msstate.edu/development or contact Easley at deasley@hrm.msstate.edu or (662) 325-2203.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.