The Laker Lead Cohort Kicks Off a Six-Session Program Taking Place Throughout the Academic Year
(September 2, 2026) - Intentionally aligned with Clayton State's Strategic Plan, Laker Lead develops emerging leaders by strengthening leadership skills, professional growth, and campus engagement, including a deeper understanding of the university's mission, culture, and strategic priorities. The goal is to equip participants with knowledge, abilities, and confidence to lead effectively, pursue future leadership opportunities, contribute to Clayton State University's success, and make a positive impact on the campus community.
The program was initially announced during this April’s Alice J. Smith Awards program and drew broad interest across the campus community. After receiving 59 applications, 18 Faculty and Staff were selected to participate in the first cohort. The Laker Lead Cohort is housed within Human Resources under the direction of Assistant Vice-President Human Resources, Rodney Byrd, led by Laker Lead Cohort coordinator and HR Employee Engagement Manager, Billy D. Evans, and co-facilitated by Assistant Dean of Students, Dr. Sarah Ray.
The half-day Kickoff event, held Monday, August 17 in the Innovation Center, started with a welcome and support for cohort participants by our President Dr. Georj Lewis, an engaging overview of the Strategic Plan from inception until the current 2030 plan with Vice President of Information Technology & Services, Jim Pete, and an inspiring keynote address that motivated the cohort for the upcoming year by Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Takeem Dean.
Laker Lead training sessions will begin in September with Lead with Purpose: Mission, Values, and Strategy. Participants explore their leadership strengths while connecting departmental goals to institutional priorities. Future sessions will focus on Operational Excellence & Effective Management, Data-Informed Decision Making, Leading Student Success and Social Mobility, Academic & Career Pathway Leadership, and Financial Stewardship for Leaders.
Billy D. Evans discussed one of the exercises planned for the first Laker Lead meeting in September. “Participants will take the Golden Personality Profiler, an online assessment. The survey results will be evaluated, and they'll receive a printout at that first session about themselves, their leadership style, and how they like to communicate. So, it's going to give them a lot of self-awareness about who they are.”
Feedback from the initial Laker Lead welcome meeting was very positive, and participants shared what they hope to gain from the program afterward. Shenetra White, Belonging and Veterans Center Coordinator, said, “I am excited to connect and build relationships with colleagues across Clayton State and learn from people with different experiences and leadership perspectives. I see this as an opportunity to gain new strategies I can apply in my current position while stepping outside my normal day-to-day responsibilities and focusing on my own development.”
Another 2026 Laker Lead Cohort member, Kelsey Williams, Service Desk Supervisor in ITS, shared, “I want to become a more intentional leader who listens, empowers others, embraces different perspectives, and leads with purpose. Most importantly, I hope this experience challenges me to move beyond simply identifying opportunities for improvement and inspires me to take action.”