HCTCs Swafford named to KCTCS Presidents Leadership Seminar
Bryan Swafford of Hazard Community and Technical College is one of 18 faculty and staff members selected from throughout the Kentucky Community and Technical College System to participate in President Michael B. McCall s 2013 President's Leadership Seminar (PLS) beginning in January.
The seminar promotes and strengthens leadership traits among KCTCS faculty and staff in an effort to advance the System s 16 community and technical colleges, as well as each participant s personal and professional goals.
This annual leadership program offers select faculty and staff a unique experience to learn from the top community college experts in the nation. It is designed to not only enhance their skills, but to also create strong KCTCS leadership for the future, said KCTCS President Michael B. McCall.
This unique professional development experience explores such broad-ranging issues as leadership traits, national issues and trends, professionalism, media relations, and customer service.
Participants will have opportunities to interact with community college leaders in Kentucky and from across the nation to learn about leadership challenges facing higher education. There will be a variety of forums for the participants to engage with these leaders from January through June, providing them with skills that can be applied when they return to their campuses.
To be eligible for the seminar, faculty and staff members from the colleges must be nominated by their college presidents. Dr. McCall makes the final selection of the class.
Swafford is the HCTC Academic Counselor for the Student Support Services Program. Prior to that, he worked for two years at the HCTC GEAR UP Coordinator.
Swafford noted, This is a terrific opportunity to for me to grow as a leader and acquire skills to better serve our students and my colleagues. I just want to better myself to help build up those around me. I am so fortunate to be surrounded by co-workers that truly care about students. I hope to obtain a whole new set of skills to make a positive contribution. I decided to apply to the seminar to prepare myself for higher-level leadership opportunities, gain a larger understanding of the KCTCS system, sharpen my leadership skills, identify personal areas that need improvement, network with other KCTCS colleagues, bring information back to better my institution, and share my knowledge and experience on a system wide level. The prospect of gaining graduate level credit is also very exciting. Most of all, I want to make a make a positive impact on everyone around me.
Swafford graduated from Clay County High School in 1995 and he received his bachelor s degree in Secondary Education from Alice Lloyd College in 2000. He will be pursuing a master s degree from Morehead State University in Adult and Higher Education
Swafford and his wife Natosha Swafford live in Pippa Passes with their son sons, 4-year
old Bryson and one-month-old Kolton.