Rockefeller College Partners on Leadership Training for State Employees

Rockefeller College (pictured above) is partnering with the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations on a new training institute.

ALBANY, N.Y. (Jan. 26, 2017) – A new partnership between the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER) and the University at Albany’s Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy will be providing leadership training to senior-level state employees starting in February.

Established as the New York State Leadership Institute (NYSLI), the development opportunity is designed to increase leadership effectiveness of participants by providing tools and strategies to successfully meet the challenges facing New York State government.

“This partnership is positioning Rockefeller College and UAlbany as the premier provider of public affairs education in the state,” said Karl Rethemeyer, interim dean of Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy. “We are thrilled to partner with GOER and assist state leaders in advancing their professional skillset.”

The 2017 NYS Leadership Institute will accommodate 40 management/confidential employees in salary grades M2 or higher. Participants must be nominated by their agency leadership and then selected through a joint GOER/Rockefeller College process. Trainings will be held at the Albany Training Center of the Professional Development Program (PDP), beginning next month, with multi-day sessions through December 2017.

During the training, NYSLI participants will:

• Explore leadership principles and practices and examine their personal leadership strengths and development opportunities
• Strengthen their business acumen, ability to lead people, lead change, drive results and build coalitions
• Build a network of relationships across diverse agencies and organizational units to collaborate on innovative, results-driven solutions
• Engage in a variety of learning experiences, including facilitated classroom instruction, case studies, reading assignments, small group activities, team-based projects and self-assessment

Selected participants may also choose to enroll for up to 12 credits towards a graduate degree or certificate program through Rockefeller College. Additional, graded assignments will be required to receive credit.

Rockefeller College is providing leadership for NSYLI through dean emeritus Jeffrey Straussman, along with its intellectual framework, and most of the program’s instructional effort. Rethemeyer also credited PDP, part of Rockefeller College, for its support throughout NYSLI’s development.

“PDP has developed this opportunity for the college through its existing relationship with GOER,” Rethemeyer said. “PDP’s director Gene Monaco, Deborah McGuire and Jim Bonville all worked very hard to make this happen. I’m grateful for their continued support of NSYLI and our college.”

Rockefeller College is among the top the top public affairs schools in the country with nationally-recognized faculty experts in politics, governance, policy, and public management. Through its distinctive academic offerings, the college prepares students to make lasting contributions to public service - as citizens, professionals, and future educators.

For more information on NYSLI, visit PDP’s Public Service Workshops Program website.

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