UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State staff and faculty seeking to enhance their leadership skills can take advantage of free, virtual programming offered through Penn State Human Resources. These programs support professional growth at every career stage, from early-career to experienced managers.
“Developing leadership goals is a fantastic personal goal and an important process for anyone looking to advance their career. It’s also an essential part of our values as an institution, and employees can use these programs to help accomplish their annual goals,” said Jennifer Wilkes, Penn State’s vice president for Human Resources and chief human resources officer. “We want to ensure that anyone looking to develop these skills can find what they need through Penn State.”
Participation is open to all employees, regardless of title or supervisory experience. Whether employees are stepping into leadership for the first time or refining their management approach, the programs are designed to meet a range of development needs. All offerings are fully virtual to ensure accessibility across campuses.
“These programs will provide valuable insight into the skills necessary for leadership and team management,” Wilkes said. “No matter how long an employee has filled a supervisory or managerial position, there is plenty more to learn.”
Program options include Penn State Emerging Leaders (PSEL), Transition to Supervision, and Management Concepts. Full details and registration links are available on the Leadership Foundations webpage on the Human Resources website.
Explore your options:
- Penn State Emerging Leaders (PSEL): Designed for early-career professionals and current leaders alike, this program helps participants to build confidence, expand leadership capacity, extend peer networks and shape career development plans. PSEL uses a blend of instructor-led seminars, assessments and self-directed learning. Applications are open Aug. 15-Sept. 30.
- Transition to Supervision: New to leadership and management? This nine-week course blends virtual sessions and self-paced asynchronous learning to help first-time supervisors gain the skills and mindset needed to succeed. Spring, summer and fall sessions of the program are available each year. Employees interested in enrolling can complete a training form.
- Management Concepts: Three skill-building tracks, for new and experienced managers, cover several aspects of managerial work. While not mandatory to complete, managers can gain new insights on best practices and approaches and sharpen their skills. Courses are automatically assigned to managers on their transcript in the Learning Resource Network (LRN) and can be completed at any time. Remaining 2025 course dates are available on the Management Concepts page in the LRN.
Programs are offered online to support participation from all campuses. To learn more, visit the Leadership Foundations webpage or contact HR Services at 814-865-1473 or by opening an inquiry and selecting "Talent Management/Workplace Learning" from the drop-down menu.