Katharine Rumrill-Teece, Ed.D., an award-winning Professor of Communication Studies and professional Trainer/Facilitator, is extending her expertise beyond the classroom and into the community. Over the past year, through OCC Industry Partnerships, she has led three cohorts of leaders at Onondaga County's Department of Children & Family Services through a Leadership Training Workshop Series.
"It was great," said Billy Kirby, Director of Detention Services. "She was very knowledgeable. She gave us a lot of good examples, and we participated in exercises that tied it all together and gave us a better understanding of more tools we can use."
The workshop series focused on strengthening leadership skills through practical techniques, including conflict resolution, creating psychological safety, reducing defensiveness, fostering a supportive climate, and navigating difficult conversations.
"I was grateful for the opportunity to be of service and support the important work being done in the Department of Children & Family Services," said Rumrill-Teece. "Their service to the community is powerful."
"I thought this experience was great," added Kirby. "It was valuable for us to be able to step back, be away from the buildings where we work, and be in a safe environment where we can learn more tools. We will incorporate parts of this into our training with our supervisors."
If your organization is interested in participating in this type of training, contact OCC's Rebecca Fracchia, Director of Industry Partnerships, at r.s.fracchia@sunyocc.edu.
