Gordon State College Staff Members Recognized for State, National Leadership Programs
By Karolina Philmon, GSC Marketing Manager
Gordon State College acknowledges five of its staff members for their community leadership dynamism.
GSC Vice President of Advancement, External Relations and Marketing, Montrese Adger Fuller was named to the 2022 American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Millennium Leadership Initiative (MLI). According to its official website, MLI is a premier leadership development program that provides individuals traditionally underrepresented in the highest ranks of postsecondary education with the opportunity to develop skills, gain a philosophical overview, and build the network and knowledge needed to advance to the presidency.
AASCU is a higher education organization of almost 400 public colleges, universities and systems. As part the 2022 MLI, Adger Fuller will serve as a pilot to bolster the qualitative dimension of the curriculum regarding the increasing challenges facing today’s college and university presidents.
“I am very excited to be selected as a member of the 2022 Millennium Leadership Initiative Institute cohort. This will be an amazing opportunity, and I am honored to interact with exceptional leaders who represent higher education institutions around the nation. I look forward to making significant contributions that will benefit the Gordon State College campus community,” Adger Fuller said.
On May 17, 2022, GSC Dean of Students Dr. Matthew K. Robison graduated from the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP) at the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce building in downtown Atlanta. Over the past year, Robison served as a 2021-2022 EPFP Fellow with 13 other education, business and non-profit leaders from across the state of Georgia.
“It was an honor to serve as a 21-22 Georgia Education Policy Fellow,” Robison said. “I look forward to taking what I learned from this intimate leadership experience and contributing to the betterment of public education systems in the State of Georgia.”
The EPFP is a national professional development program sponsored by the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) that provides potential leaders with the knowledge and networks to advance the core issues of education policy. The program, as described within their official website, provides Fellows with a unique personal development laboratory for applying new insights and for cultivating new skills. The participants hear and discuss education policy with the most respected policy makers in the state and nation. At the end of a year, EPFP Fellows are better informed and more skillful advocates for sound public policy.
GSC Director of Career Services and Athletics, Dr. Tonya Y. Moore was named to the Class of 2022 Leadership Macon cohort. Leadership Macon provides leadership training and community orientation to individuals seeking to become more involved in the growth and development of Macon and Bibb County. It is a year-long program that introduces a class of upcoming community leaders to the attributes of, and challenges to Macon and Bibb County so that the class can explore possible projects and solutions, interact with political and community leaders and develop relationships that will benefit each class member and the community for years to come.
Class members of Leadership Macon attend a weekend retreat at the beginning of the year, followed by monthly seminars. The mission of Leadership Macon is to enrich the community through active involvement and civic responsibility in shaping its future.
“I am excited to be a part of the Leadership Macon Class of 2022, ‘Best Class Ever!’ As a resident and employee within the Middle Georgia Region, I am vested in the ecosystem and feel the need to give back to my community,” Moore said. “In order to make a viable and sustainable impact, one must take the time to learn about the community. I love to serve in all capacities, what better place is there to do it other than your own backyard!”
On Saturday, May 21, GSC Director of Library Services Angiah L. Davis and GSC Admissions Operations Coordinator Shalanna Banks graduated from the 2021-2022 Leadership Lamar cohort. The organization seeks to identify qualified candidates who wish to assume roles in leadership in the community. The participants’ role include developing programs and creating their own unique experience. Davis and Banks’class cohort project was to raise $10,000 for the purchase of equipment for an inclusive playground for the Lamar County Primary School. In the end, they presented the Lamar County Board of Education with a check for $14,500.
“I enjoyed learning more about the community where I work and connecting with like-minded professionals,” Davis said. “Our class was full of passionate leaders and as a result, we were able to exceed our goal in support of the inclusive playground purchase. It was truly a community effort.”
Leadership Lamar’s mission for each class is to drive the process to network and explore community demographic metrics, gain essential skills in conflict resolutions, value negotiation, diversity and inclusion, group dynamics and collaboration.