Public Safety Celebrates First Leadership Foundations Program Graduates

Columbia University Facilities and Operations (CUFO) Human Resources, and Public Safety recently celebrated the successful completion of its inaugural Public Safety Leadership Foundations Program, recognizing 16 Sergeants and Senior Sergeants who completed the six-week professional development program. Created and facilitated by Jeff Thompson and Victoria Durden of University Learning and Development, the program was designed to strengthen leadership skills and help staff excel in their role as supervisors. The program was customized and designed for the unique role that Public Safety sergeants have in their frontline interactions and supervision of Public Safety officers and was intended to strengthen communication, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, leadership presence, and team development. 

During the graduation ceremony, David M. Greenberg, executive vice president for Facilities and Operations, and Brian McPherson, deputy vice president for Public Safety, commended the cohort for their dedication to strengthening Public Safety’s culture of pride, professionalism, and service. “This inaugural cohort demonstrated a commitment to learning, growth, and leading by example,” said McPherson. "We look forward to seeing the positive impact they will have on their teams, across the department, and on the whole Columbia University community.” 

Three program participants — Jason Batts, Desiree Phillips, and Jose Cruz — shared what they learned from the program and how they will use it going forward. “As sergeants, we have a unique responsibility to be the middleman between management and the operation,” said Senior Sergeant Jason Batts. “As leaders, we owe it to the people below us, beside us and above us to continue our training to collect these skills for when the difficult moments arise. We have been prepared to rise to the occasion.” 

The Leadership Foundations Program supplements Public Safety’s robust and comprehensive training program for its staff, which covers a wide range of topics including first responder training, compliance procedures, interpersonal skills, and implicit bias awareness. The program represents an investment in developing leadership at all levels of Public Safety and strengthening the department’s ability to serve the Columbia community.