The Arkansas Union Ballroom filled with Student Affairs staff for the first Supervisors’ Summit on Feb. 13. Attendees had opportunities to take part in two educational sessions and one strategy session designed for supervisors at all levels.
The morning started with a light breakfast while staff took some time to visit with each other. Jeremy Battjes, vice chancellor for Student Affairs welcomed everyone in attendance and Chancellor Charles Robinson addressed the crowd with words of encouragement and praise for their work.
It was the keynote speaker who took the stage and inspired the summit attendees. Dr. Adam Stoverink is the author of “Unbreakable: Building and Leading Resilient Teams,” and is the executive director of the Walton MBA Program and an associate professor of management in the Sam M. Walton College of Business.
“When supervision is built on mutual respect and trust, individuals feel valued and empowered,” Stoverink said. “Respect means treating others with dignity and appreciating their contributions, while trust is shown by listening, honoring those perspectives, and believing in each other’s abilities. Together, these create a supportive environment where people thrive and bring their best every day.”
Lori Lander, assistant vice chancellor for Strategic Projects & Initiatives said it was amazing finding the perfect speaker on our own campus.
“Leadership development isn’t a one-time event – it’s an ongoing journey. Through this partnership, we’re equipping our supervisors with the skills they need to lead with confidence and resilience. And the best part is the expertise we needed was right here in our Razorback community in Dr. Adam Stoverink,” Lander said.
Stoverink’s dynamic presentation resonated with the audience.
“The keynote with Dr. Adam Stoverink really hit home for me, focusing on the importance of relationships. This is something I’ve prioritized in my departments and team-building efforts,” said Bryan Adams, director of IT Operations for Student Affairs. “It was great to hear the study about how high performers often have a high failure rate, as it highlights the importance of teams being able to adapt, be honest, and not fear minor failures while learning and improving.”
“Dr. Stoverink asked us something very powerful – ‘do you have a best friend at work,’ which made me pause and reflect,” said Jerrod Lockhart, director of Transition Programs and Initiatives. “Acknowledging the importance of the relationships that you have within your department is important. We all know our jobs and tasks that we must complete, but we also need to acknowledge that we are just humans doing the work, and we are not perfect.”
The inspiration for the Supervisors’ Summit came directly from the Student Affairs values surveys in Spring and Fall 2024, where staff voiced a desire for professional development that went beyond the basics, and that would help them refine their leadership skills and grow in their careers. The summit is a working example of the Division’s Advancing Student Affairs Strategic Plan goals, tactics and objectives in action. The event was planned by the division’s Supervision & Leadership Committee, chaired by Lander.
Lander said there were some hurdles along the way outside of finding the right speaker. “We had to navigate some unpredictable weather, which almost disrupted our plans more than once. But our team’s flexibility and commitment ensured everything came together,” Lander said.
The nine education sessions were created by staff members in the Division, some in conjunction with co-presenters from outside Student Affairs. The sessions ranged from “Supervising Across Generations,” to “Managing Work-Life Integrity for Yourself and Your Team,” to “Enhancing Team Effectiveness Through Delegation.”
“It was amazing to be surrounded by people who were eager to improve and stay informed in their roles,” said Eris, creative services manager for Student Affairs. “The event offered a wealth of valuable insights, and I particularly enjoyed the multigenerational session.”
The “Supervising Across Generations” session was led by Leslie Yingling, associate vice chancellor for Student Success, and Jen Edwards, instructional design and support manager for the Provost’s office. This session explored understanding and managing multigenerational teams and strategies for motivating different generations.
Adrain Smith, director of the Multicultural Center, presented on “Enhancing Team Effectiveness Through Delegation.”
“Adrian Smith’s session on delegation was highly impactful,” Adams said. “Many of his points reinforced the practices I have already been employing to set my team up for success. The discussions were enriching, and I hope they will promote healthier delegation practices across other teams in Student Affairs.”
Erica Estes, assistant vice chancellor & executive director Offices of Career Connection, presented a session titled “Innovation in Supervision,” which focused on how supervisors can foster a culture that promotes creativity and drives innovation.
Estes said she received positive feedback from her sessions with one attendee saying, “it was fun moving through the activity with a small group of staff I don’t usually work with,’ and another “loved having the opportunity to self-reflect and hear others self-reflect- which builds a strong organizational culture.”
Lockhart said his greatest take away came from the round table with his peers, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, teamwork, and networking. “I engaged with colleagues from various departments who have different types of supervisory experiences. Hearing their stories, their ways of managing unique situations, and their overall authenticity was refreshing and reassuring,” Lockhart said.
“Overall, the discussions emphasized that better communication helps us all perform better and succeed together,” Adams said. “Whether it’s creating a cohesive team or managing them to be dynamic, strong communication is key.”
“Our team walked away with numerous ideas for improving departmental processes, fostering increased collaboration, rallying around shared vision, and better supporting one another and our students,” said Nathan Brown, executive director of TRIO Talent Search Programs and director of Educational Talent Search. “Many thanks to Lori Lander and the Leadership & Supervision Committee for a wonderful event and to all the speakers and presenters for equipping supervisors to lead their teams in innovative ways with respect and trust.”
“The Supervisors Summit was an incredible opportunity to network and build my professional skills,” said Kaitlyn Riggin, associate director for UA Cares. “As a newer supervisor, it was great to see so many folks dedicated to providing the best support to each other and to our students. I feel I can use many things I learned during the summit to continue growing as a supervisor!”
Lander said she felt the event was a major success and the engagement from managers and staff showed just how much this type of training was needed.
“Dr. Stoverink’s insights on resilience and leadership resonated with our audience, and the nine educational sessions that followed were exactly what we hoped for — thoughtful, reflective, and action-oriented,” Lander said. “Given the overwhelmingly positive response, we absolutely plan to continue developing meaningful professional development opportunities like the Supervisors’ Summit.”
