Delaware Department of Labor (DOL) employees from across the state gathered in Wilmington, Delaware, this spring for a professional development workshop on leading teams and managing a diverse workforce - the kick-off session for the fourth day of the DOL Leadership Academy, a partnership between the department and the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA).

Jennifer Daniels, who earned her doctorate in urban affairs and public policy from the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration in 2022 and oversaw the diversity and inclusion educational programming in UD's Office of Equity and Inclusion from 2015 to 2018, engaged workshop participants in a discussion on the importance of understanding and engaging with diversity in public administration, especially as a leader.

"Our various social identities lend to different vantage points and perspectives, values and motivations, choices and decision-making," Daniels said.

Jason Atallian, leadership academy participant and administrator in DOL's Office of Anti-Discrimination, Division of Industrial Affairs, reflected on the value of Dr. Daniels' session and the whole program.

"The DOL Academy has allowed me to have more self-reflection and understanding of my leadership personality," he said. "It has also enabled me to be more aware of and accept other people's leadership and workplace styles, realizing there is another way of approaching situations."

Joy Jordan, assistant policy scientist at IPA, organizes three core components of the academy:

• classroom-style training sessions focused on a range of leadership and management topics

• facilitated discussions with experienced leaders

• development and completion of capstone projects focused on enhancing DOL's culture of collaboration and innovation

Training topics include effective supervision, teamwork, decision-making, cultivating innovation and managing organizational change.