- May 13, 2026
- By Maryland Today Staff
At UMD, a professional development initiative designed to strengthen skills across campus is helping supervisors better support their teams while advancing a key priority in the university’s strategic plan to invest in people and create an environment where every member of the campus community can thrive.
The Excellence in Supervision program, developed by the Center for Leadership & Organizational Change (CLOC) in partnership with University Human Resources (UHR), provides supervisors with practical tools for managing people, fostering inclusive workplaces and leading teams effectively. It includes three levels: Foundations, launched in 2025; Intermediate, launched in 2026; and Advanced, which is currently in development.
“Leadership development is one of the most effective ways organizations can improve workplace culture over time. By investing in supervisors, we’re ultimately investing in the experience and success of employees across the university,” said Adrienne Hamcke Wicker, director of CLOC, and a recent recipient of a Fearlessly Forward MVP Impact Award.
Almost 300 faculty and staff have completed the Foundations program across all colleges, schools and divisions, and nearly 400 are currently enrolled.
Assessment data show the program is helping participants build confidence in several core supervisory skills. Supervisors reported the largest gains in using a coaching approach to support employees, giving effective feedback and facilitating mutual accountability on teams. Participants also reported increased confidence in setting clear expectations, connecting employees’ work to UMD’s strategic commitments and fostering inclusive environments that nurture belonging.
For many participants, the program’s value has come from learning strategies they can apply immediately.
“I learned that it’s really important to be clear and specific in your communication and feedback, both in giving positive and constructive feedback,” said Daryllee Hale, program director of content marketing for the Alumni Association. Role-playing scenarios in which participants had to give both praise and more difficult notes to an employee helped Hale develop a “muscle memory” for those kinds of conversations in real life, she said.
Zachary Eide, assistant director of HVAC systems support in Facilities Management’s Department of Operations, Maintenance and Utilities, said the course was interactive and engaging.
“The breakout rooms and follow-up conversations spurred interesting responses and gave me new perspectives from areas of the campus I don't interact with on a daily basis,” he said. “The course provided me with thoughtful content I could incorporate with my current supervisory and leadership skills."
The program was developed in response to staff feedback and growing recognition that supervisors play an increasingly significant role in employee experience.
"The employee experience is shaped every day by supervisors. This program is about equipping leaders to lead and communicate with intention, and create environments where every individual feels valued and supported," said assistant vice president and chief human resource officer, Rythee Lambert-Jones.
Excellence in Supervision was launched as part of a broader effort to strengthen support for supervisors across campus, including a supervisor toolkit—a central resource, offering direct links to essential policies, procedures, and processes that equip supervisors with the knowledge needed to excel in leadership.
Excellence in Supervision, which is available to all supervisors, is required for newly hired or promoted faculty and staff.