Speaker Sessions for Elevate: Empowering U

Meet the inspiring speakers for the USG Staff Council Conference, who bring a wealth of expertise and a commitment to enhancing higher education across the University System of Georgia. These distinguished leaders span diverse areas, from leadership development and public administration to economic growth and strategic data analytics. Through their impactful sessions, they will share insights on topics ranging from strategic planning and staff development to creating a culture of coaching and continuous improvement in higher education. Get ready to engage with thought leaders who are shaping the future of education in Georgia and beyond.

USG Staff Council Conference
ksu faculty presenting to a group of people.

Dr. Wendi Jenkins, Associate Vice Chancellor of Leadership and Institutional Development

Dr. Wendi Jenkins serves as the University System of Georgia’s Associate Vice Chancellor for Leadership and Institutional Development. She develops and delivers innovative, relevant, and sustained programs designed to maximize individual and institutional effectiveness.

Prior to joining the system office, she served as the Director of Columbus State University’s William B. Turner Center for Servant Leadership, which included the undergraduate Servant Leadership Program, as well as the Internal Leadership Development department. She also held the Frank D. Brown Distinguished Chair position in Servant Leadership while at CSU. Wendi holds a Doctor of Education Degree from Columbus State University, an Educational Specialist Degree in Instructional Technology from the University of West Georgia, a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education/English from Columbus State University. She is certified in Emergenetics and FourSight and holds an ACC-level credential from the International Coaching Federation. 

  • Join us for an interactive session focused on understanding and engaging with the four pillars of the USG’s (University System of Georgia) strategic plan. This session will empower participants to identify key initiatives within the pillars of the USG’s 2029 strategic plan, reflect on how their roles align with the initiatives, and celebrate their contributions to both their campus and the broader university system. 

Jennifer W. Purcell, EdD, MPA, Professor Public Administration at Kennesaw State University

Misty Grayer, JD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Public Administration & CETL Faculty Fellow for Learning-Centered Teaching at Kennesaw State University

Dr. Misty Grayer is an Assistant Professor of Public Administration and Faculty Fellow for Learning-Centered Teaching at KSU’s Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. She is an experienced facilitator, educator, and a former practicing attorney.  Grayer’s research and teaching explores effective decision-making through the lens of collaboration, law and public management, and contemporary public issues.

Dr. Jennifer Purcell is a Professor of Public Administration and GA State Chair for the American Council on Education (ACE) Women’s Network. She has over 20 years of experience in public and private higher education within Georgia, having earned tenure and promotion to full professor and holding administrative appointments in academic affairs, student affairs, and enrollment management. Purcell is a leadership scholar whose research and practice explore leadership capacity building in organizational and community contexts.

  • Higher education governance and shared decision-making processes within universities and colleges are ripe with opportunities for improvement. Research indicates leadership coaching is a highly effective intervention for leaders in developing their capacity for collaboration, and a growing body of evidence suggests it is similarly effective for teams. Our interactive session explores innovative applications of coaching concepts to improve campus-based collaborations.

    During the session, we will discuss strategies for cultivating a coaching culture across campus. We’ll focus on coaching and collaboration skills that benefit employees navigating inter and intra-organizational boundaries. Participants will engage in a brief collaboration simulation, followed by a structured debriefing to identify potential applications within their home institutions. Additionally, participants are invited to contribute to IRB-approved data collection, shedding light on coaching opportunities and necessary resources system-wide.

Kelly Goble, Continuous Improvement Manager at Kennesaw State University

Dr. Jennifer Hoyt, Director, Strategic Data Analytics at Kennesaw State University

Kelly Goble is a dedicated Continuous Improvement Manager at KSU, where she has been contributing since December 2023. With a strong academic background and over a decade of experience in transportation and logistics before transitioning to higher education in 2018, Kelly brings a wealth of knowledge to her role. Kelly is proud of her commitment to continuing education and plans to earn micro-credentials, certificates, and perhaps even another degree. Known as the “go-to” person in both corporate and higher education roles, she is reliable, helpful, and gets the job done. Kelly has an MBA as well as many additional certifications, including Kaizen Facilitator, Certified Diversity Professional, and Prosci Change Management Certification. 

Dr. Jennifer Hoyt serves as Director of Strategic Data Analytics for the Division of Organizational Effectiveness, Leadership Development, and Inclusive Excellence (OLI) and is currently leading Organizational Effectiveness in an interim capacity. Dr. Hoyt strives for efficiency and impact by being data-informed, creating sustainable practices and reuseable tools, and optimizing resources and expertise. Her work in these spaces supports KSU compliance with federal requirements, informs inclusion efforts, and helps the KSU community be its best. She is a Georgia-native with a Bachelor’s from UGA, as well as a Master’s and Ph.D. in Latin American History from the University of Texas at Austin.

  • This session will show the different ways the Office of Organizational Effectiveness deploys continuous improvement methodologies for operational excellence at KSU. The session will explore the genesis of continuous improvement projects, methods for assessing needs, and common approaches to progress efforts. Guidance will be provided on how to self-assess and identify ways in which continuous improvement can elevate operations. By understanding this relationship, attendees will be able to foster a culture of continuous improvement, thereby enhancing overall institutional effectiveness and student achievement. 

Karen McDonnell, Vice President of Human Resources, CHRO at Kennesaw State University

Karen McDonnell is the Vice President of Human Resources/CHRO at Kennesaw State University where she led the transformation of the KSU HR team from transactional to a team that is responsive and functions as a strategic partner to campus. Karen is both SPHR and SHRM-SCP certified and has over 20 years experience in Human Resources, the last 7 being at Kennesaw State. She has significant experience in HR transformation and HR consultancy models. Her experience is primarily in the Higher Education and Healthcare industries.

  • This session will review KSU’s program designed to improve the engagement and retention of high potential employees in our largest staff division as they move into leadership roles. KSU's mentor program was first created in response to turnover and retention concerns with high potential employees and is aimed at keeping them engaged and challenged. The program also creates development options for those individuals being considered for succession roles but needing additional development. This Mentor Program that is recruiting for its 4th cohort. The 8 month cohort includes rotations through other campus departments, work styles assessments, training sessions on practical leadership topics (eg giving and receiving feedback); mock search committee/panel interviews and more. We are tracking the retention rates of those that complete the program and move into higher level roles.

LaTisha S. Joiner, Office Manager, VP, Student Affairs at Kennesaw State University

LaTisha Joiner is the Office Manager to the Office of the VP of Student Affairs at Kennesaw State University. With over 10 years of experience working in Student Life as well her years spent living in countries such as China and Japan, she utilizes the knowledge gained to better understand what is needed to foster a more harmonious campus community for our beloved institutions. Her deep regard for Student Affairs and her passion for customer service has been instrumental in her walk in insuring quality hospitality, empathy, and authenticity.

LaTisha has been married to her husband Patrick Joiner for 8 years, and they have a 4-year-old son named Kazuki. She enjoys traveling, reading, and watching 90s sitcom re-runs in her spare time.

  • Attendees at this session will hear about the Japanese origins and practices of Omotenashi, it's meaning, and how we can incorporate some of those practices into our own institutions. The presentation will dive into customer service practices that we see on a daily basis that are poor or unsatisfactory, and compare them to how we may see some of those poor actions seep into our own offices whether it's intentional or unintentional. We will then cover the ten components that make up excellent customer service, and how we can better foster our offices/departments with proper training, execution, sustainability, and accountability.

Jaime Fulsang, Director of Training and Development at Kennesaw State University

Jasmine Hope Jackson, Associate Director of Training and Events at Kennesaw State University

Jasmine Hope Jackson joined the Owl Nation in 2018 as a graduate student intern and progressed to a full-time role with the Division of Student Affairs. She transitioned to Coles College of Business’ Center for Student Success where she served as the Director of Student Success before joining the Division of Organizational Effectiveness, Leadership Development, and Inclusive Excellence in October 2023 as the Associate Director of Training and Events. She is honored to be of service to the KSU community through the dynamic and critical resources offered through her division! 

Jaime Fulsang joined the Division of Diverse and Inclusive Excellence at Kennesaw State University in April 2023. In her role, she seeks creative and engaging ways to develop leadership, inclusivity, and excellence among the faculty, staff, and students at Kennesaw State University. 
 
Jaime began her professional career in higher education in 2019 when she joined Kennesaw State University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Asbury University as well as a Master of Divinity degree from Emory University. 

  • This session will teach participants what Emotional Intelligence is and why it is such a powerful tool in the workplace. Participants will leave with prompts for self-reflection as well as practices that they can use for interpersonal interactions as well as team collaborations. Teams where people feel seen and heard yield better results. Discover how building your emotional intelligence can improve your work-life experience as well as the experience of your colleagues. 

Dr. Ken Harmon, Professor of AccountingFormer Provost and Interim President of Kennesaw State University

Dr. Ken Harmon is a business professor and motivational speaker. He provides research-based advice on how to be happier in our everyday lives and how to build a culture of happiness in the workplace. He has delivered more than 200 speeches in seven countries on the subjects of happiness, culture, and leadership. 
 
Harmon is an accounting professor at Kennesaw State University, where he previously served as Director of the School of Accountancy, Dean of the Coles College of Business, university Provost, and Interim President of the university. Ken resides in the greater Atlanta area, is active in the community, and serves on numerous boards. He has three daughters and enjoys riding his Harley, writing music, playing guitar, saltwater fishing, and playing golf.

  • We all want to be happier, and we all want to be in a happy workplace. Research shows happy organizations are much more successful and have higher employee retention. In this fun, interactive discussion, Dr. Ken Harmon presents his practical rules for creating a happy workplace. He also uses the research on personal happiness to give straightforward prescriptions that are guaranteed to make you happier. 

Tyler Reinagel, Associate Vice President, Economic Development at Kennesaw State University

Art Recesso, Ph.D. Vice Chancellor, Academic Innovation at University System of Georgia

Greg King, Associate Vice President for Economic Development at Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Tyler Reinagel is Associate Vice President for Economic Development at Kennesaw State University. He leads KSU’s engagement with economic and workforce partners including Chambers of Commerce, workforce development organizations, city and county governments, and the Georgia Department of Economic Development. He also leads KSU’s Office of Career Planning and Development, serving 41,000 undergraduate and 4,000 graduate students, and the Burruss Institute for Public Service and Research, doing applied research for public and non-profit entities across the state including the annual Metro Atlanta Speaks survey conducted for the Atlanta Regional Commission. Prior to joining KSU, Tyler served as Director of Planning and Research with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, overseeing local and regional planning for the state’s 689 local governments and 12 regional commissions. 

A native of Woodstock, he earned his MPA and Ph.D. in Public Administration and Policy from the University of Georgia with research and teaching focused on state/local finance, intergovernmental relations, and tax policy. While at UGA, Tyler served as a Senior Doctoral Fellow with the Fanning Institute in UGA’s Public Service and Outreach. 

Dr. Recesso currently serves as the University System of Georgia vice chancellor for Academic Innovation. As Vice Chancellor, Art spearheads the development of strategic initiatives and new programs with an overarching objective to expand employment opportunities, transform legacy models of instruction, and arm new graduates with future-ready knowledge and skillsets. Art has also overseen the concept to launch process of programs targeted towards rapidly-growing sectors including data science, fintech, cybersecurity, healthcare, and aerospace. His current work on AI related technology is focused on scalable personalized learning systems. 

Greg King serves as Georgia Tech’s Associate Vice President for Economic Development in the Office of Institute Relations. In this role, he leads strategic external relations with industry and government to advance investment and economic growth in Georgia. He establishes partnerships, mobilizes relevant resources, and highlights campus strengths, including talented students, research, new technologies, and start-up ventures. Greg also fosters key partnerships to expand strategic industry sectors across the region, contributing to Georgia Tech’s value and the state’s reputation as a technology hub. His leadership enhances the impact of Georgia Tech’s innovation districts of Technology Square and Science Square, fostering economic and community growth through collaboration between higher education and industry. 

  • "USG in Georgia's Economic Vitality" will be a panel discussion of various Economic Development leaders from USG institutions, moderated by USG Vice Chancellor for Academic Innovation Art Recesso. The panel will share with attendees the role that USG institutions play in the economic development efforts at the local, regional, and statewide levels; how collaboration on- and between-campuses can help drive the state's economy; and how critical all campus functions are to helping improve the impact we all have on the broader state's economic well-being. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions of panelists.