New to leadership? There’s support for that.

A message from Wake Forest’s Professional Development Center team

The biggest psychological and emotional shift any of us make in our professional lives is the one from being an individual contributor who does great work, to a leader who must manage, direct, and lead others. And when that happens, many step into that new role and get absolutely no training, help, or support.

Since 2023, the Professional Development Center (PDC) at Wake Forest University has tried to change that. We piloted a multi-month program for new leaders in Campus Life, and then one for new managers across WFU, with great success and lessons learned. Just this past spring, we graduated our first cohort of what we now call our New Leader Institute. Those who have participated in the program have learned about skills and competencies crucial to being effective in their new leadership role, such as communication, influence, teamwork, feedback, coaching, and conflict management. Participants had the opportunity to share what they have learned together and coach each other through the ups and downs of life as a leader all in a safe environment with their fellow Deacs going through the same struggles and successes.

The PDC will be holding another New Leader Institute from August 2025 – May 2026. Participants are encouraged to apply who meet the following conditions:

• This is the first time in your career that you have held a formalized leadership/supervisor position 
• You have been in this new leadership role anywhere from 0-24 months
  • Or, will be promoted into such a position before December 31, 2025.
• You are actively managing at least one person, and are responsible for the performance, goals, work, etc., of those direct reports (i.e., formally responsible for the performance management of staff in Workday).
• You are committed to being fully present and attending each in-person session which occurs one Friday each month from August 2025 – May 2026 from 11:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
• Your direct manager/supervisor is supportive of you attending all sessions.

You can learn more about the program here. If you are interested in being part of this program, please send a letter of interest via email by July 21, 2025 to Dr. Bill Gentry, Director of Learning and Development, a part of WFU Human Resources.

During these summer months, anyone can work on their leadership skills with these on-demand and self-directed courses.

• Best Practices for New People Leaders
• Skills for Your First 90 Days as a New Manager
• New Manager Foundations
• Supervisor Training Program

Continue your professional development with the PDC:

Visit us online at pdc.wfu.edu

Register for our classes through Workday Learning

Follow the PDC on Instagram @wfutalent

Or, contact our professional staff:

William (Bill) Gentry (gentrywa@wfu.edu) – Director of the PDC and Learning & Development

Paige Edwards-Werhan (werhanp@wfu.edu) – Assistant Director, Learning & Development

Missy Campbell (campbem@wfu.edu) – Manager, Learning & Development