Group photo from the Department of Labor Leadership Academy

Delaware Department of Labor (DOL) employees from across the state gathered in Wilmington, Delaware, this spring for a professional development workshop on leading teams and managing a diverse workforce — the kick-off session for the fourth day of the DOL Leadership Academy, a partnership between the department and the University of Delaware’s Institute for Public Administration (IPA).

Advancing public sector leadership potential

Article and photos by Sophonie Milord July 24, 2024

UD partners with Delaware Department of Labor to prepare state employees for future leadership roles

Jennifer Daniels, who earned her doctorate in urban affairs and public policy from the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration in 2022 and oversaw the diversity and inclusion educational programming in UD’s Office of Equity and Inclusion from 2015 to 2018, engaged workshop participants in a discussion on the importance of understanding and engaging with diversity in public administration, especially as a leader.

“Our various social identities lend to different vantage points and perspectives, values and motivations, choices and decision-making,” Daniels said.

Jason Atallian, leadership academy participant and administrator in DOL’s Office of Anti-Discrimination, Division of Industrial Affairs, reflected on the value of Dr. Daniels’ session and the whole program.

“The DOL Academy has allowed me to have more self-reflection and understanding of my leadership personality,” he said. “It has also enabled me to be more aware of and accept other people's leadership and workplace styles, realizing there is another way of approaching situations.”

Joy Jordan, assistant policy scientist at IPA, organizes three core components of the academy:

classroom-style training sessions focused on a range of leadership and management topics
facilitated discussions with experienced leaders
development and completion of capstone projects focused on enhancing DOL’s culture of collaboration and innovation

Training topics include effective supervision, teamwork, decision-making, cultivating innovation and managing organizational change.

Joy Jordan, assistant policy scientist at IPA, organizes three core components of the academy with training topics that include effective supervision, teamwork, decision-making, cultivating innovation and managing organizational change.

Christine Fischer, adjunct instructor of creativity and design thinking for the Horn Entrepreneurship program at UD, guided the participants through a human-centered design simulation to uncover unmet needs, identify a “wicked problem,” design a prototype and share the solution.

Ryan Crawford, instructor of project management with UD Professional and Continuing Studies, provided an in-depth session on the roles, requirements and steps needed for successful project management.

With participants from across the department, the academy provides an opportunity to make connections and build relationships across the organization.

“I enjoy engaging and interacting with other leaders throughout DOL that I wouldn’t normally be able to interact with,” said Candice Davis, leadership academy participant and DOL social service chief administrator.

Jordan and her colleagues Valdese West, Jennifer Reitz and Troy Mix utilize the StrategicDoing(TM) method to facilitate each team's capstone development meetings. The capstone projects address customer service needs throughout the department, from the minute a new client walks in the door to retaining and developing existing employees.

Now in its third year, the leadership academy provides DOL employees with six in-person sessions to enhance their organizational strengths and leadership capacity. The 2024 academy ran from March to June, with a closing ceremony that included DOL senior leadership and the Secretary of Labor awarding certificates of completion.

In 2019, then-Secretary of Labor Cerron Cade identified a need for leadership development and enhancement within his department. He contacted IPA’s associate directors, Troy Mix and Kathy Murphy, to create a customized program for the department's needs. Despite a stalled start during the COVID-19 pandemic, the academy has now graduated approximately 75 leaders. Current Secretary of Labor Karryl Hubbard works with her team to identify and invite 25 professionals to participate annually.

Christine Fischer, adjunct instructor of creativity and design thinking for the Horn Entrepreneurship program at UD, guided the participants through a human-centered design simulation.

A legacy of public sector training

For over 50 years, IPA has partnered with state agencies, municipal governments and nonprofit organizations to offer training programs and events focusing on building organizational capacity and addressing timely issues facing the public sector.

Sean O’Neill, IPA policy scientist, coordinates the Local Government Training program, a year-round program sponsored by the State of Delaware that provides virtual and in-person workshops for municipal, county and state leaders.

“For over 20 years, IPA’s local government training program has been the primary source for teaching local officials the basics of understanding state laws and local land use processes,” O’Neill said. “As time has passed, we have expanded to other topics, such as leadership, flood preparedness, ethics, housing, human resource concerns and budgeting.”

The Delaware Municipal Clerks Institute (MCI) offers professional development to municipal and county staff in Delaware and surrounding areas.

“Since its inception in 1993, over 250 individuals across four states have participated,” said Valdese West, assistant policy scientist and institute coordinator. “The Delaware Municipal Clerks Institute is a foundational program for those seeking certified and master municipal clerks designations in the region. This program is one of many that helps to build the public administration and local government landscape by increasing professional development opportunities in the state.”

While each training initiative is unique, IPA ensures convenience for participants by offering virtual sessions or recordings for future reference.

IPA’s Grant Assistance Program (GAP), funded by the State of Delaware, provides free technical grant assistance to local governments for infrastructure initiatives and other competitive and formula grant opportunities. The free training series led by GAP provides leaders with information that empowers and supports their communities' funding endeavors.

“Our longstanding partnership with the State of Delaware has allowed us to create training programs that meet the diverse needs of public servants and engaged residents,” Mix said.

Among those programs is the Democracy Project Institute for Teachers, led by the Delaware Center for Civics Education. Each summer for the last 25 years, the Democracy Project has brought together K-12 teachers to participate in a week-long program dedicated to improving the teaching and learning of civics by enhancing their content knowledge, resources, and instructional and assessment practices.

IPA’s Conflict Resolution Program offers a four-day Basic Mediation Training (BMT). Open to the public, this training provides a foundation of understanding about the community mediation process and supports individuals interested in enhancing their communication and conflict resolution skills.

For more information on IPA’s training programs and work in Delaware, visit ipa.udel.edu.

About the Institute for Public Administration

The University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA) addresses the policy, planning and management needs of its partners through the integration of applied research, professional development and the education of tomorrow’s leaders. As a research and public service center in the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration, IPA collaborates with state agencies, municipal governments, nonprofits, communities and businesses to examine complex policy issues and improve quality of life in Delaware and beyond.

About the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration

Established in 1961 and named in 2018 for the University of Delaware’s most distinguished alumnus, the 46th President of the United States, the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration prepares students with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage in research and public service to improve the quality of life in communities around the world. Biden School faculty, staff, students, and alumni create and use interdisciplinary, nonpartisan research and empirically based analysis to inform effective decision-making and policy and to improve leadership and administration. The Biden School partners with organizations from all sectors to discover innovative and equitable solutions to the critical challenges of our time.