Mid-State Technical College (MSTC) is pleased to announce that two employees, Mary Moss and Stacy Riley, recently graduated from the Wisconsin Leadership Development Institute (WLDI). The year-long program was created in conjunction with the Chair Academy for Leadership and Development to advance organizational leadership in technical and community colleges.

Moss, Wisconsin Rapids, is an Associate Dean in the Service & Health Division. Riley, Plover, is an Associate Dean in the Technical & Industrial Division. Both women are based at the College’s Wisconsin Rapids campus. They began the institute’s program in July 2008 with a week of training that involved individualized professional development plans. Additional components of the leadership institute include a mentor and coaching program, a three-day session concentrating on the elements of the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) and a final week of on-site training reinforcing the leadership principles developed throughout the program year.

Participants are nominated and selected by their individual colleges to attend WLDI. Moss said her experience was invaluable. “One area of concentration we discussed was transformational leadership and how it applies to our daily work. The institute also provided a great forum to share best practices.” She added that the program’s topics of mentoring and coaching, leading through change and learning to think strategically were key benefits of the institute. “WLDI is a very strong program, and I have already been able to implement concepts that I learned,” said Moss.

Riley said her experience with WLDI was very helpful with the transition to her new role as an associate dean. “It was a terrific leadership training program.” She said connections formed with other higher education professionals from around the country and learning first-hand about varied leadership experiences were beneficial. “The depth and breadth of leadership topics covered in the program was immense, but relevant and highly applicable,” added Riley.

During the course of the institute, Moss and Riley addressed topics such as The Complex Role of the Organizational Leader, Building Effective Work Teams, Strategic and Scenario Planning, Managing Conflict, Leading Change, Behavioral Work Styles and Appreciating Diversity.