Eagles Leadership Convocation Class of 2024 introduces ‘Eagle Eye’
Ready to spread their wings are members of the ELC Class of 2024 including Shaquita
Hopson Alfonso, Jeanette Howell, Laureta Chislom, Angie Pickard, Eric Griffin, Erin
Richardson, Jamila Brown Coleman, Christopher Haralson, Tim Cole, and Terrell Taylor.
With its capstone project, the Eagles Leadership Convocation (ELC) Class of 2024 offered another way to share Meridian Community College's message with its internal audience.
ELC is an academic year-long professional development and leadership program comprising 10 MCC faculty and staff members. This year's cohort included Shaquita Hopson Alfonso, associate director of veterans and military services and C2C coach; Laureta Chislom, executive assistant to the president; Tim Cole, director of custodial and support services; Jamila Brown Coleman, adult basic education director; Eric Griffin, Commercial Truck Driving Program instructor; Christopher Haralson, athletic trainer and sports information director; Jeanette Howell, support services coordinator; Angie Pickard, human resources director; Erin Richardson, instructional design specialist; and Terrell Taylor, art instructor and Casteel Gallery director.
As a part of their final project, the ELC members crafted a fully-developed group project focused on identifying a College need – enhancing communication - and presented it to the President's Cabinet. Haralson told the cabinet, "When faculty and staff understand the College's missions and goals, they collaborate more effectively. We need transparency and efficient communication to keep everyone informed and aligned."
They developed the idea of a communication vehicle, Eagle Eye, which will be available for MCC faculty and staff to glean essential information about the College. Information updates would correspond with campus-wide events, such as fall and spring convocations, and readers could use embedded QR codes in Eagle Eye to locate more information. Interactive videos will also be included.
MCC President Dr. Tom Huebner saw the project as doable and was pleased with the plan's preliminaries. "This is awesome," he said. Dr. Leia Hill, vice president for institutional advancement and executive director of the MCC Foundation, said, "I like it because it's the same message presented in multiple ways."
The project presentation was the final gathering for the ELC Class of 2024, but before they graduated from the program, they were applauded for their efforts and for helping to make a positive change for the College. "Thank you for being a part of it," said Dr. Huebner. "This has been exciting."
Coleman shared that the leadership program offered many benefits. "By participating in ELC, I not only contributed to the improvement of the college but also unlocked my personal growth and a career advancement opportunity by becoming director of adult education."
She added that the key takeaways from her year-long participation included building strong professional relationships from across the campus that will create a supportive network and encourage teamwork and creative problem-solving.
The Class of 2025 has been selected, and this new cohort includes Darren Bane, workforce project manager; Jaterra Hurst, women's basketball assistant coach; William Davidson, assistant dean of institutional research; Casey Holladay, social media coordinator and event specialist; Phyllis Holladay, mathematics instructor; Matthew Milner, lead media specialist and videographer; James Price, director of facilities management; Flora Sumrall, Business Office Technology Program and Accounting Technology Program coordinator; Crystal Webster, director of student accounts; and Marion Whiting, director of housing and student activities.
Each recipient will receive a leadership book, an ELC-branded Polo-style shirt, a medallion, a certificate at graduation, and $500 after program completion.
For more information, visit meridiancc.edu/elc.