A fresh group of female staff members has been chosen to take part in the Women’s Staff Leadership Institute for the year 2025.

This initiative was established in 2017 by UGA University Human Resources and has been conducted annually ever since. It corresponds with the Women’s Leadership Initiative that was initiated in 2015 by the Office of the President and the Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. Juanita Hicks, vice president of human resources, along with Stacy Jones, associate vice president of public service and outreach, are co-executive sponsors for the upcoming cohort.

“Empowering our personnel through leadership training is crucial for our shared achievement,” stated Hicks. “With every new cohort, we affirm our dedication to creating an environment where individuals can enhance their leadership abilities, foster significant relationships, and contribute to a culture of excellence within the institution.”

The Women’s Staff Leadership Institute is managed through University Human Resources’ Learning and Development and is led by Emily Saunders, a faculty member in public service at the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, part of UGA Public Service and Outreach.

The 2025 cohort will commence on April 29 and continue through November, with participants convening monthly for workshops and discussions.

The individuals in the 2025 cohort are:

Ruchika Bansal, director of finance and administration at Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. Bansal began her journey at UGA as a senior accountant in 2014. As the financial and human resources manager for the Warnell School, she supervises the school’s financial and human resource functions. She offers strategic and operational fiscal oversight across various activities of the Warnell School, encompassing personnel management, capital projects, budget forecasting, planning and development, along with monthly and yearly financial reporting.

Leslie Colvin, senior director for integrated marketing and brand strategy, Division of Marketing and Communications. Colvin took on her present role in October 2022 after becoming part of the university’s marketing and communications team in 2017. She spearheads brand marketing initiatives across both traditional and digital platforms to enhance UGA’s national standing. Colvin supervises a team of editors, copywriters, data analysts, content strategists, web developers, and social media strategists, working cohesively to craft and communicate the university’s narrative. She also manages the budget for brand and digital strategies and steers advertising efforts that yield compelling, outcomes-focused campaigns.

KT Cooke, director of sales and event management, University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel. Cooke has held her current position at the Georgia Center, which is a public service and outreach unit, since 2021, providing strategic direction in large-scale event coordination and premium hospitality services. In this capacity, she leads the Sales and Event Management team, ensuring outstanding client experiences and operational excellence. As a participant in the Georgia Center’s Executive Council, she plays a significant role in strategic planning, budget monitoring, and policy innovation. Furthermore, she oversees the Hospitality and Food Industry Management Internship Program, offering students practical experience across diverse sectors of the hospitality industry.

Lori C. Crawford, director of Engagement, Leadership, and Service within the Division of Student Affairs. Crawford joined the university in 2017 and heads a dynamic team within the Department of Engagement, Leadership, and Service in the Division of Student Affairs. This department manages the registration and support for nearly 900 student organizations, hosts over 200 events and student activities annually, fosters student leadership development, and organizes community engagement and service opportunities to enrich the student experience. Additionally, Crawford serves as an advisor to the Student Government Association.

Donna C. Francis, director of human resources for Auxiliary Services. In her role as the human resources director for Auxiliary Services, Francis supervises all human resource functions within the division, including recruitment, employee relations, payroll, and compensation, while guiding a team of human resource professionals. Her expertise lies in performance management, talent acquisition, employee/labor relations, and fostering inclusive environments. Francis began her tenure at UGA in 2022.

Ashley Johnson, associate director of Immigration Services within the Office of Global Engagement. Johnson specializesin global student assistance, immigration consultancy, and administrative guidance. Presently functioning as the associate director and advisor for international students and scholars in the Office of Global Engagement, she navigates international students, faculty, and academic divisions through the U.S. educational immigration framework. Johnson commenced her journey at UGA in April 2010 and continues to be dedicated to improving the global learning experience, highlighted by policy enforcement, extensive training initiatives, and student-focused programs.

Shayla S. Lee, head of information management, Office of Academic Programs, Mary Frances Early College of Education. Lee has been a part of the UGA community since 2002. She offers support for the college’s academic programs; oversees the college’s information, assessment, and evaluation systems; leads various projects; and provides additional services for the college and the Office of Academic Programs, encompassing tracking and monitoring students in endorsement certificates, distributing and verifying graduation and certification criteria, notarizing documents, generating reports, and aiding students and school district collaborators with the endorsement, certification, and upgrade procedures.

Kathy Ortstadt, chief executive director of development, Office of Development and Alumni Relations, Terry College of Business. In her capacity, Ortstadt directs the Terry College of Business Development and Alumni Relations team and also heads UGA’s Office of Principal Gifts, which concentrates on donations exceeding $1 million to UGA. Ortstadt integrated into the University of Georgia’s Office of Development Relations as the senior director of development and alumni relations within the Terry College of Business in 2019.

Heather Skyler, director of communications, Office of the Vice President for Instruction. In her position, Skyler propels the university’s strategic goals through captivating narratives and effective communication methodologies. Skyler commenced her tenure at the University of Georgia in 2018 as managing editor for UGA’s Division of Marketing and Communications. Prior to joining UGA, she taught writing at various institutions and served as a lead editor and writer for numerous publications.

Lisa Wilson, senior operations manager, University Research Animal Resources, Office of the Vice President for Research. Wilson began her journey at UGA in February 2002 as an animal care technician. She was elevated to senior operations manager in 2021. In this capacity, she supervises 16 animal facilities, managing large-scale projects, inaugurating new facilities, overseeing inventory, budgeting, and human resources duties, among other responsibilities.

The article Ten employees selected for eighth cohort of Women’s Staff Leadership Institute first appeared on UGA Today.