The Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER) today announced the launch of the New York State Leadership Institute, a leadership development program for senior-level state employees, developed through a partnership between GOER and the University at Albany’s Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy. The program, first piloted in 2017, is designed to increase the leadership effectiveness of State employees by providing tools and strategies to successfully meet the complex challenges facing New York State government.

The 2018 Leadership Institute will include 40 management/confidential employees. Participants for the 2018 cohort will be nominated by agency leadership and then selected jointly by GOER and the Rockefeller College. The program will be held in the Capital District beginning in May 2018 with multi-day sessions through December 2018.

 “Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, New York has recommitted its efforts to enhance professional development and training opportunities for all State employees,” said Michael N. Volforte, Director of the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations. “GOER is pleased to partner with the Rockefeller College and provide this critical leadership training to the next generation of leaders in state government.”

 “We are thrilled to be partnering with GOER to offer this distinguished leadership program and thank Governor Cuomo for his support on this important initiative,” said Karl Rethemeyer, Interim Dean, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy. “Through this program, we will provide participants with enhanced tools and strategies to advance their professional skillset and successfully meet the challenges they face as leaders in New York State government.”

 During the training, participants of the New York State Leadership Institute will:

• Explore leadership principles and practices, and examine personal leadership strengths and development opportunities
• Strengthen their ability to lead people, lead change, drive results, and build coalitions
• Build a network of relationships across diverse agencies and organizational units to collaborate on innovative, results-driven solutions
• Engage in a variety of learning experiences, including facilitated classroom instruction, case studies, reading assignments, small group activities, team-based projects, and self-assessment

The New York State Leadership Institute builds upon New York’s continued efforts to expand leadership and supervisory skills training opportunities to employees throughout State government. GOER also partners with state employee unions to develop and deliver skills-based training for a wide variety of occupations in New York State government.

The University at Albany’s Rockefeller College is among the top public affairs schools in the country with nationally-recognized faculty experts in politics, governance, policy, and public management. The University at Albany is the premier public research university in the Capital Region and offers more than 17,000 students the expansive opportunities of a large university in an environment designed to foster individual success.