Student Affairs
306 Memorial Hall
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia
February 11th, 2017
Dear Assistant Director for Student Affairs Staff Development Search Committee,
After reviewing the position description for the Assistant Director for Student Affairs Staff
Development, I would love the opportunity to discuss my extensive practical application, innovative
program development, and current experience working in higher education as well as learn more about
this dynamic role. From my research, I believe that the University of Georgia offers a promising and
challenging environment in which I could apply my assessment, programming, and communication
skills.
Staff development and recognition embodies most of my strengths and values as we are working towards
one mission as an institution. As the Leadership Programs Coordinator, I am fortunate to develop and
implement intentional workshops and programs for students and staff – primarily after attending the
Gallup StrengthsFinder Coaching Course. On a smaller scale, our department is focused on offering
professional development to our internal staff. I have been able to facilitate developmental staff meetings
on topics such as self-care, diversity and inclusion, the 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace,
and the Enneagram. My focus with supervisees is on them as individuals and what resources are available
to assist them in their personal goals. To inform and add to my own development, I am a frequent
participant in our division’s Professional Development Committee workshops like the annual book club
and assessment conference.
Within my current role, assessment and creating reports are some of the responsibilities I thrive in as it
allows my strengths of information collecting and sharing to come to fruition. I am able to manage
multiple assessment projects for the programs I oversee as I advise the work teams implementing them.
I employ several types of assessment that range from electronic surveys on Google products and
Baseline to observational and paper and pencil. With this information collected, I am able to find themes
and trends in order to report executive summaries and infographics out to colleagues and stakeholders,
ensuring transparency with all involved.
Throughout each of my roles, communication and organization has come to the forefront of my
responsibilities. I have collaborated with several offices, departments, and businesses to bring about
events that have had a mutual benefit for all constituents. In my roles within Residential Programs and
Community Service-Learning (CS-L), there was a constant need to communicate with involved
stakeholders to ensure success for comprehensive programs. Furthermore, handling the finances along
with logistical details is one of my strengths but also leaves room to be flexible with event management.
As the Leadership Programs Coordinator at Miami University, I have had the opportunity to manage and
allocate over $150,000 in scholarships for students, allowing me to be detail-oriented and cognizant of
budgeting.
With the experiences I outlined as well as shared professional values with the University of Georgia I
know I possess unique qualities and talents of an Assistant Director. I feel I would be a great fit with
energy and passion for staff development. I appreciate your consideration and would be honored to
interview for this position. I thank you for taking the time to consider my candidacy.
In Service,
Courtney Lynn Wallace
Courtney Wallace 1
Courtney Lynn Wallace
Input
Discipline Consistency
Restorative
Learner
EDUCATION:
James Madison University (JMU), Harrisonburg, VA
James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
Master of Education, May 2014
Bachelor of Arts, May 2012 Cum Laude
College Student Personnel Administration
Major: Art History, Minor: Studio Art
CERTIFICATION: American Council on Exercise: Personal Trainer
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Wilks Leadership Institute - Leadership Programs Coordinator
Miami University - Oxford, Ohio
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Supervise 4 graduate and 3 undergraduate students, developing leadership skills and capacities
Compile, implement, and analyze assessment data into executive reports and appealing infographics
Create intentional learning outcomes and facilitate developmental all-staff meetings
Facilitate StrengthsQuestTm workshops for student employment, departments, and courses
Assist with planning 2 one-day undergraduate and high school student leadership conferences
Collaborate with campus partners to plan large-scale leadership lecture and small-scale workshops
Co-advise a leadership living-learning community in developing an intentional and student-led environment
Manage and award approximately 40 endowed scholarship funds to 75 students totaling $150,000
Advise Winter Immersion Service Experience (WISE) Scholar Leader cluster on planning an alternative break
trip incorporating themes of social justice, community service, and civic engagement
Strategic plan with professional staff after completing an intensive self-study external review process
Coordinate, organize, and assess 4 sections of 2-credit EDL 290 Scholar Leader group leadership course
Instruct and facilitate a 2-credit EDL 290 course surrounding the topics of identity, power and privilege, and
values within the Social Change Model of Leadership
Advise several student staff work teams and registered organizations
Community Service-Learning Office (CS-L) - Graduate Assistant
James Madison University - Harrisonburg, Virginia
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June 2014 – Present
August 2012 – May 2014
Supervised 8 undergraduate Service Coordinators who oversaw more than 50 community agencies
Teamed with campus constituents on large and small-scale events for diversity and civic engagement
Organized CS-L International Festival, Hunger Banquet, In-Service, and Reflections Committees for
educational programming and days of service with attendance ranging from 20-2,000
Provided academic-based assessment to faculty using measurable service-learning outcomes
Held bi-monthly planning meetings with Service Coordinators to facilitate management and development
of service placements with agency communication strategies to foster positive working relationships
Aided in the development, facilitation and coordination of educational training and reflection services for
CS-L participants in community placements
Residential Programs Cornell University Summer College - Program Coordinator ACUHO-I Intern
Cornell University – Ithaca, New York
May - August 2013
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Established a 10-week programming model for student staff to follow involving community building,
diversity initiatives, academic support, and social events for 900 high school students earning college credit
Interacted and maintained communication with international and domestic on-campus students
Identified student concerns and created multi-dimensional programs to meet student developmental and
intellectual needs
Managed the financial responsibility of $15,000 budget for weekly in-hall and large scale programs
Courtney Wallace 2
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Identified, assessed, and prioritized the level of risk associated with programming
Directly supervised and trained 5 undergraduate Program Assistants on Event Management
Co-developed 10-day training for 40 Residential Community Advisors to prepare for common situations
Served as primary and secondary on-call Head Resident as needed to ensure safety of high schoolers
Ensured that residential staff developed and exercised skill in establishing programs that contribute to a
sense of community and safety on both floor and hall levels
Provided guidance to Program Assistants through daily staff and individual weekly meetings
Dux Center, Kijiji: Citizens of Influence Leadership Program – Graduate Student Intern
James Madison University – Harrisonburg, Virginia
November 2012 – September 2013
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Developed, implemented, and facilitated train-the-trainer facilitation guides and supplemental resources
for upper class students on staff through retreats and weekly meetings
Utilized the Social Change Model and 7 Habits of Highly Effective College Students into intentional trainings
and programming
Explored and researched best practices for potential Leadership Consulting program
Created comprehensive pre-assessment measure to evaluate where students were in their leadership
development
Implemented and refined program assessment and evaluation methods and techniques to better reflect
learning objectives
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
MIAMI UNIVERSITY
Give Back Cincinnati
Service Project Volunteer
University Lecture Series
Committee Member
Student Activities
Student Engagement and Leadership Workshop
Multiple Organizations Staff Advisor
Creativity and Innovation
Miamideas Month Sub-Committee Member
Hazing Prevention Committee
Research Chair
Office of Diversity Affairs
SafeZone Trained Ally
JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY
Admissions Office
Alumni Admissions Recruitment Volunteer
Summer Tour Guide
Student Activities and Involvement
Presidential Leadership Academy Facilitator
Leadership U Committee – Marketing and Registration
Madison Future Commission
Student Life & Success Committee
Madison Collaborative
Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Facilitator
University Program Board
Madipalooza Large-Scale Activities Committee
PRESENTATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
• Leadership Educators Institute, Long Beach, CA; December 2016
• BookExpo America: Book Blogger (Social Media) Conference, Chicago, IL: May 2016
• NASPA (National Association of Student Personnel Administrators) Conference, Indianapolis, IN: March 2016
• Wallace, C. (2015). Keep Calm, You Don't Have to Pick One. In What are you? A Multiracial KC Stories
Project (1st ed., Vol. 1, pp. 90-92). NASPA.
• Ohio State Assessment Conference, Columbus, OH; July 2015
• Leadership Educators Institute, Fort Worth, TX; December 2014
• NASPA IV-East Regional Conference, Columbus, OH; November 2014
• The Dux Center LEAD Team: Creation & Implementation of a Student-led Training & Development Team for
Students - JMU Student Affairs and University Planning Conference, Harrisonburg, VA; September 2013
• Motivational Interviewing - Cornell University Professional Development, Ithaca, NY; July 2013
• Leadership Style Inventory - JMU Leadership U Conference, Harrisonburg, VA; February 2013