LEAD Initiative Survey: Set the priorities for this initiative.

The LEAD Initiative supports a healthy and vibrant campus ecosystem by building relationships and connections across all parts of our community, creating opportunities for learning and honing leadership skills, and fostering a mindset of growth and productive communication, and resiliency. This Initiative accomplishes these goals through hosting meaningful events and discussions, providing thoughtful curated resources, and supporting all of Montana Tech’s staff and faculty members.

Please contact any of the faculty and staff listed below for more information. We welcome and encourage participation from all faculty and staff at Montana Tech. The realization and potential of this group is dependent on the participation of a diverse group of stakeholders.

Professional Development Day 2023

August 15, 2023
7:30 AM – 3:00 PM

The LEAD team is excited to host Professional Development Day 2023 on August 15th as we all come back onto campus. This year we will be exploring ways to improve communication between faculty, staff, and students with sessions on meeting students where they are (which Star Wars do YOU think came first?), David Coleman (relationship expert), and an encore presentation of the 7 Norms of Collaboration. The day also includes sessions on topics of immediate concern such as accreditation and artificial intelligence in higher education. We will begin breakfast on the go, make new friends at a meet and greet over lunch, and wind down with an outdoor social event including music, food, and relaxation.

Please contact Kat Fitzgerald-McCormick if you would like to join the team in planning this event!

View the full schedule of events »

Faculty and Staff Leadership Team

Stella Capoccia, PhD
Associate Professor
Biological Sciences
Montana Technological University
1300 West Park Street, Butte MT 59701
CBB 219 (Chemistry & Biology Building)
406-496-4717
scapoccia@mtech.edu


Charie Faught, PhD, MHA
Associate Professor
Nursing
Montana Technological University
1300 West Park Street, Butte MT 59701
CBB 204C (Chemistry & Biology Building)
406-496-4884
CFaught@mtech.edu


Kathryn Fitzgerald-McCormick, Ed.S
Director, Center for Academic Innovation
Montana Technological University
1300 West Park Street, Butte, MT  59701
Engineering Hall 207
406-496-4189
kfitzgeraldmccorm@mtech.edu


Madeline Gotkowitz, PhD
Research Division Chief
Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology
1300 West Park Street, Butte, MT  59701
NRB 317 (Natural Resource Building)
406-496-4153
mgotkowitz@mtech.edu


Sarah A. Raymond
Director
Career Services
Montana Technological University
1300 West Park Street, Butte, MT  59701
University Relations Center 109F
406-496-4384
sraymond@mtech.edu


Scott Risser, PhD
Professor and Department Head
Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences
Montana Technological University
1300 West Park Street, Butte, MT  59701
Main Hall 102
406-496-4845
srisser@mtech.edu


Casandra Welsh
Budget Analyst
Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology
1300 West Park Street, Butte, MT  59701
NRB 314 (Natural Resource Building)
406-496-4349
cwelsh@mtech.edu


Jodie Delay
Chief of Staff
Chancellor's Office
Montana Technological University
1300 West Park Street, Butte MT 59701
MG 302 (Mining & Geology Building)
406-496-4129
jdelay@mtech.edu


Colleen Fink
Executive Assistant to the Provost
Academic Affairs
Montana Technological University
1300 West Park Street, Butte, MT  59701
MG 301 (Mining & Geology Building)
406-496-4127
cfink@mtech.edu


Janet Friesz
Registrar/Veterans SCO
Enrollment Services
Montana Technological University
1300 West Park Street, Butte, MT 59701
SSC 3.126D (Student Success Center)
406-496-4868
jfriesz@mtech.edu


Michelle Morley, Ed.D.
Director of Associate of Science & Workforce Development
Highlands College of Montana Technological University
25 Basin Creek Rd, Butte, MT 59701
Office 125
406-496-3778
MMorley@mtech.edu


Hilary Risser, PhD
Professor and Department Head
Mathematical Sciences
Montana Technological University
1300 West Park Street, Butte MT 59701
Museum Building 112
406-496-4581
hrisser@mtech.edu


Administrative Sponsor

The role of the Administrative Sponsor is to serve in a supporting role to secure resources and to assist the group and leadership team as needed.

Vacant


Suggested Reading List

Lead From the Outside – Stacey Abrams

Stacey Abrams’ book is part memoir part leadership manual.  In compelling personal stories, Abrams describes the key lessons she has learned about leadership along the way.  Mixed throughout the book are some exercises where Abrams has you clarify what you want, find your strengths and weaknesses, and identify your advisors.  This book in particular will speak to individuals that are underrepresented in leadership roles.  The major downfall of the book was that Abrams used her own experiences rather than research to illustrate good leadership principles.

Tags:  Empowerment, Emotional intelligence

Dare to Lead – Brené Brown

Brené Brown researches shame and resiliency.  In this book, she describes why leaders are often afraid to take risks.  The book and the associated workbook walk you through identifying fears and emotions that are keeping you and your team from taking needed risks.  Brown focuses on teaching how to develop the emotional intelligence you need in work and life.  In one of the more interesting exercises, Brown asks you to identify two core values that you will use to guide your leadership work.  This exercise in particular, really focuses you on not just what you want to achieve as a leader, but why it matters to you.

Tags:  Communication styles, Transparency, Emotional intelligence

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team – Patrick Lencioni

In each of the five “fables” in the book Patrick Lencioni captures the worst places you have ever worked.  Lencioni then identifies the specific quality that created the dysfunction.   The five key issues that these terrible environments share:  absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability, and inattention to results.  What I enjoyed about the book is the focus on how leaders can create a culture that leads to a more productive workplace. Lencioni has also written a follow up called Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team that is designed to help leaders enact that cultural change.  

Tags:  Communication skills, Transparency, Building and supporting teams, Creating meaningful cultural changes

Crucial Conversations – Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan and Al Switzler

Part of being a leader is addressing controversial and/or difficult issues with coworkers, bosses, and employees.  People are often reluctant to have hard conversations because they fear that these types of conversations will damage their relationships with others at work.  Crucial Conversations describes why this fear is unfounded and gives real techniques that can be used at work or at home.  The book includes vignettes that show how the techniques described can be applied in personal and professional situations.  If you are having a hard time communicating effectively, this book gives you a road map to follow. 

Tags: Conflict management, Communication skills

Leading Change – John Kotter

Before you attempt to achieve meaningful organizational change, you should read this book.  There are a lot of ways that this type of change can be derailed.  This book spells out those issues and how you can avoid them.  Kotter spells out an eight-step process to follow.  Each step in the process includes vignettes describing both successful and unsuccessful change attempts.   While the vignettes were derived almost entirely from business, I still found them engaging and useful.  One of my favorite parts of the book actually was not directly related to the eight stop process.  The second chapter included a great chart taken from another of Kotter’s books that spelled out the difference between leadership and management.  Anyone interested in learning how leadership is distinct should check it out.