Custom Leadership Program Builds Next Generation of Leaders at Duke School of Nursing

Initiative developed with Duke Learning & Organization Development is opening doors to new career growth

A binder sits on a table at a training session.
Members of the Duke University School of Nursing Staff Leadership Development Program listen to a lesson. Photo by Travis Stanley.

In three decades at Duke, Corey Brown has embraced challenges.

Starting as a patient transporter, he went through a precursor to Duke Learning & Organization Development’s Foundational Skills Program, gaining clerical skills that led to administrative roles with the Duke Cancer Center and the Patient Management Revenue Organization.

In 2018, he joined the Duke University School of Nursing where, as a Staff Assistant, he learned how to build the online interfaces of courses, and now as a User Services Specialist, he helps faculty, staff and students meet their varied audio/visual needs.

Now, as one of 10 members of the School of Nursing's Staff Leadership Development Program, which launched in March of this year, Brown is ready to explore a new career horizon.

Corey Brown takes part in a discussion during a meeting of the School of Nursing's Staff Leadership Development Program. Photo by Travis Stanley.
Corey Brown takes part in a discussion during a meeting of the School of Nursing's Staff Leadership Development Program. Photo by Travis Stanley.

“I wanted to challenge myself and see if I can develop leadership skills to maybe do different things in the future,” Brown said. “I’m always looking for new opportunities and ways that I can improve on what I already know.”

The Staff Leadership Development Program was developed by Duke Learning & Organization Development (L&OD), a unit in Duke Human Resources, in partnership with School of Nursing leaders to strengthen operational effectiveness and build leadership capacity. The offering reflects School of Nursing Dean Michael Relf’s commitment to investing in the professional growth of school staff.

Participants in the yearlong program, modeled after L&OD’s Duke Leadership Academy and Duke Management Academy, receive individual coaching, learn from guest speakers and take part in monthly five-hour instructional sessions.

Topics include project management, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution and presentation skills. Participants will also complete group projects focused on how the school’s physical spaces can promote belonging and how staff can integrate AI into their work.

Members of the DUSON Staff Leadership Development Program pick photos to represent work challenges and discuss their choices. Photo by Travis Stanley.
Members of the School of Nursing's Staff Leadership Development Program pick photos to represent work challenges and discuss their choices. Photo by Travis Stanley.

“I can see this group being the next leaders at the school,” said Selnatta Vereen, Human Resources Director at the School of Nursing.

This is the third time the School of Nursing has partnered with L&OD’s consultation service to create a customized leadership development program, and the first since 2019. Vereen, who helped design this year’s program, was part of the 2019 cohort and said she continues to draw on what she learned.

“I think that it gave me an idea of what types of things I know we needed and what the best parts of the program were when I went through it,” Vereen said. “We made sure those best parts are still there.”

After the mid-March kickoff, participants met in April to go over the results of their strengths assessments and learn about the skills and best practices of effective leaders.

“We want participants to think critically about the concepts we’re covering and how they translate into their day-to-day work,” said L&OD Associate Director for Organization and Workforce Development Shannon Ashford, who helped organize the School of Nursing program. “This cohort’s eagerness to learn and the connections they’ve formed so quickly have been truly impressive.

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