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Two leaders from the University of North Georgia (̨Íåswag) have completed the University System of Georgia's (USG) Executive Leadership Institute (ELI) for 2024-25.

Dr. Sheri Hardee, dean of the College of Education, and Greg Williams, director of Public Safety and chief of police, were part of the 39 faculty and staff from across the state to participate in ELI.  

The ELI included cross-mentoring groups where participants were paired with those who have different personality styles. It also featured a chance for each member of the cohort to shadow a leader at a different USG institution.

Hardee said her cross-mentoring group was so effective at helping each other that the members plan to continue meeting even with ELI being finished.

"It's a good group to bounce ideas off of. We're all very different, but that has helped us learn to listen carefully and respond thoughtfully to one another," Hardee said. "We enjoy being together and talking to each other."

Hardee shadowed Georgia College & State University President during ELI.

"It was a great experience to see how she operated with her team," Hardee said. "Not only did I have the chance to shadow Dr. Cox, but I was able to spend time with multiple individuals on her team. So I got to see each role contributed to the daily operations of and strategic plan for the institution, and I was able to see a range of leadership approaches."

Williams also appreciated the chance to learn from others.

"The cohort model and site visits allowed me to see how other institutions approach similar challenges, which broadened my understanding of leadership at the system level," Williams said.

Williams shadowed , who served as executive vice president of administration and chief business officer at Kennesaw State University during ELI and became executive vice president of administration and finance at Georgia Tech in May.

"ELI provided me with new strategies for developing my team, enhanced my confidence in navigating complex organizational challenges and reinforced the importance of collaboration across departments and institutions. I’ve found myself applying what I learned about leadership, change management and communication daily," Williams said. "The connections I made with peers and mentors have been invaluable, and I believe the relationships built through ELI will continue to benefit both me and ̨Íåswag for years to come."

This year's ELI cohort convened in August 2024 and is the 15th cohort to graduate from the program.

Since 2009, USG has hosted ELI for faculty and staff to develop new leaders within the university system and offer professional development opportunities to help them grow their careers in Georgia. University presidents nominate academic and staff leaders to participate.

From the nominees, individuals are selected for the program and participate in a leadership development curriculum that includes content, personal reflection, job shadowing, and cross-mentoring.