March 1, 2011

Dear Colleagues:

 Four years ago, in partnership with the Commonwealth Council, we launched the Certificate in Professional Leadership program for women. This program was developed to raise women’s leadership through innovative training opportunities. In May we will have graduated 73 women from this certificate program. It is no accident that the same organizations enroll their employees year after year. As one Human Resource director recently stated, “We cannot do without that year-long program!” Another HR director reported seeing “a clear difference in the women who have gone through the program.”

 As we strive to provide the most outstanding leadership programming for women in the nation, the year-long program will remain the same: solely for women.  This path to the Certificate in Professional Leadership program is grounded in the latest research, the Batten Leadership Institute’s pioneering undergraduate curriculum, a regional survey of women’s leadership needs, and ongoing participant feedback. Our unique combination of assessments, workshops, group experiences, readings, mentorship, and conflict and negotiation sessions provides a framework for transformational leadership development.

The words of the program’s participants say it best.  Robyn Porterfield, Development Coordinator with Radford University, spontaneously announced to us that this was “the best leadership program I have ever experienced.”  Kristi Woods at Novozymes Biologicals, Inc. reports that the program “is extremely well organized and efficiently run.  Beyond my personal improvement as a leader, I think it is also a great way to meet leaders in the area and stay connected to the Roanoke Valley.”  

I have thoroughly enjoyed participating in the Leadership Institute.  Given my very busy schedule, the location of the meetings at the Higher Ed Center were very convenient. The reading material presented was very effective and informative…the staff at the Institute was innovative in their delivery of the program. Course material was presented very well with numerous opportunities for hands-on involvement. Also, the small group feedback sessions were so much fun.  It was so refreshing to talk with other women leaders and to glean from their experiences various processes and solutions that I could use in both my personal and professional life.  Taking the opportunity to “get on the balcony” and realize that women struggle--but we are not alone – was an awesome experience.  One of my goals upon entering the program was to strengthen my skills on satisfactorily resolving conflict.  Not only was I successful in achieving that goal but through observations gained from the testing profiles, I was able to better articulate a clear vision of my goals and aspirations within my organization.  I plan to use what I have learned to help to make a difference in the success of my organization and to successfully coach others.

Carol Tuning
Human Services Coordinator
City of Roanoke

Understanding who I am as a leader has always been extremely important to me.  Participation in the Hollins Women’s Leadership Certificate Program taught me that developing a deeper understanding of others is a true measure of exceptional leadership.  The experience was priceless.

Kimberly A.C. Enochs, SPHR
Senior Vice President
The Rutherfoord Companies

Graduates of the Certificate in Professional Leadership program grow and develop in ways that help them serve their organizations, our communities and the future of the Roanoke Valley. Registrations are being accepted through April 20, 2011. Please consider enrolling a promising leader in this program.

Sincerely,

Abrina Schnurman-Crook, Ph.D.

Executive Director, Batten Leadership Institute

Hollins University

P.O. Box 9552

Roanoke, VA 24015

540-362-7488

aschnurmancrook@hollins.edu