Lee Riddell
Lee Riddell
Recognized innovator in crafting and deliveringcutting-edge leadership development programming for higher education professionals. Co-developer of the firstresearch-basedleadership programs for mid- to senior-levelpractitioners, adopted by the nation’s largest unified system of colleges and universities. Pioneered in replacingconventional “one size fits all” leadership development– whichfocusedon participants’ shortcomings compared with an idealized model – with a more positive and personalized approachbased on the participant’s individualstrengths and motivation,and delivered via programsemploying contemporary best practices in interactive adult education. In-demand producer and presenter of workshops, panels, meetings and conferences.
StateUniversity of New York
Director, SUNY Leadership Institute (SUNYLI)(2011-present)
Directed all operations of the institute in developingand delivering new-generation leadership programming for SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities, and client institutions of higher education across the U.S. and Canada.
SUNY Internal Leadership Programs
Supported the Office of the University Provost in producing the annual Senior Staff Orientation Program and summer leadership retreats for executive personnel in all SUNY colleges and at SUNY Central Administration, consistently earning laudatory ratings from attendees.
NationalSUNYCollege Leaders Program
Conceived and implementedentrepreneurial marketing and delivery of leadership programs to non-SUNY colleges across North America, generating revenues to support institute operations and enhancing SUNY’s own reputation as a nationalleader.
Engaging Self-Awareness
Created atouring, half-dayintroductory workshop in leadership development for mid- to senior-level personnel, focusing on simple techniques of self-awareness and effective teamwork. The program, which broke with traditional expectations, proved highly popular and provided an entree to colleges that could benefit from the institute’s more advanced services.
Communications & Marketing
Operated SUNYLI.suny.edu, to publicize the institute’s programs and deliver its innovative online SUNY360 Leadership Skills Inventory, enabling participants to fashion their own customized career development plans.
Strategic Partnerships
Initiated partnerships with foremost providers of leadership development-related services, including:
The Center for Creative Leadership, offering exclusive, deep discounts on its popular leadership books and videos for participants in SUNYLI programs.
Cornell University, co-sponsor of the annual, two-week, “Cornell-SUNY Nepal Leadership Trek,” in which participants hike lofty mountain trails by day and conductin-depth leadership dialogues during evenings in comfortable lodgings; and a domestic variant, the annual “Adirondacks Leadership Trek.”
Prendismo, producer of “SUNY Leadership Tools Eclips,” motivational videos for aspiring leaders, viewed exclusively on SUNYLI.suny.edu.
Clint Sidle, director of the prestigious Roy H. Park Leadership Fellows Program in the Johnson Graduate School of Management at CornellUniversity, author of This Hungry Spirit: Your Need for Basic Goodness, and creator of the “Leadership Wheel,” an iconic learning tool for aspiring leaders.
Chester Warzynski, emeritus director of the Office of Organizational Development at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and leading authority on the principles and practice of Emotional Intelligence.
The Omega Women’s LeadershipCenter, a perennial supporter of SUNYLI’s “Leadership Tools for Women conferences.”
The Sustainability Leadership Institute, whose research-based “Sustainability Leadership Relational Model” articulates key concepts in leadership values and behaviors featured in SUNYLI programs.
CornellUniversity
Director, Institute for Community College Development(ICCD) (2009-2011)
Utilized Cornell faculty research in creating the first 360-degree self-assessment tool for leadership development and co-authored a dozen two to four-hour workshops to deliver developmental training. Managed beta testing of new programs at colleges within and outside the SUNY System.
Accepted management responsibility for annual “Successful Teaching Conferences,” established by a consortium of three Upstate community colleges.Extended participation to all colleges in the Upstate region, doubling average attendance, and expanded the model to include a second annual conference serving colleges in New York City, Long Island, and the HudsonValley.
Enhanced the visibility and stature of ICCD through public speaking engagements at education conferences, professional associations, and business and civic groups.
Acting Director(2008-2009)Assistant Director(2003-2008)Program Manager(2001-2003)
Coordinated the CornellUniversityfaculty team whose work led to the first research-based program of leadership development for higher education.
Managed partnership development, recruiting allies from academic institutions and private enterprise.
Organized and hosted the 2008“Democracy’s Colleges” conference at CornellUniversity, attended by presidents and other senior leaders of SUNY community colleges, focusing on issues of the 21st Century.
Founded and subsequently produced seven annual “Leadership Tools for Women” conferences, focusing on career issues for women in higher education leadership roles and featuring prominent speakers from education, business and the arts.
Project Manager, Global Seminar Project on Sustainable Development(1999 – 2001)
Helped secure and implement afive-year,million-dollar grant for an annual international course on sustainability for community college and university students.Managed international partnership development, program design and implementation, multi-point videoconferencing production, distance learning design and coordination, strategic planning, budget development, and financial reporting to meet grant requirements.
The CBORD Group, Inc.
Marketing and Sales Consultant(1989-1998)
Demonstrated technology-based tools to help clients meet accreditation requirements for health care systems.
Created and delivered sixty seminars across North America, coordinated 35 annual trade shows, designed marketing materials, provided subject matter expertise and responded to RFPs.
Expanded client base through proactive customer-focused consulting and implementation of change management tools.
EDUCATION
M.S. in Communications, August 1999, IthacaCollege ParkGraduateSchool of Communications, Ithaca, NY. Park Communications Fellow, Masters Program in Organizational Communications.
B.A. in Nutrition, Cum Laude, May 1988, College of St. Scholastic, Duluth, MN.
Dietetic Internship Program, July 1989, Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation, New Orleans, LA.
Professional (Certifications, Certificates, courses)
Character Strengths at Work(VIA Institute)
EQ-I 2.0 & EQ 360, 2015
Organizational Development, Institute for Organizational Development, 2014
Supervisor Development, CornellUniversity, 2011
Sustainability Leadership, IthacaCollege, 2011
StrengthsQuest Educator, StrengthsQuest, 2010
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®, American Management Association, 2010
360-degree Assessment, Center for Creative Leadership, 2008
Leading Cornell, CornellUniversity, 2008
Leaders Program, National Institute for Leadership Development, 2007
Hidden Treasure Spiritual Leadership Program, Light on the HillRetreatCenter, 2006
Proactive Leadership, eCornell online education program, CornellUniversity, 2005
Leadership Development, Academy for Leadership Training and Development, 2003
School for International Training, Brattleboro, VT
Management in a Global Environment, 2005
Change Management for Human Resource Professionals, 2005
Inter-Organizational Relations – Global Partnerships, 2004
Fundraising, Capital Campaigns and Planned Giving, 2004
Affiliations & Community Service
Moderator/Facilitator, Pachamama Alliance
Advisor, Executive Education, Cornell’s New York Presidents Sustainability Initiative
The Association for Contemplative Mind in Higher Education
SUNY Contemplative Network
Board member at large, American Association of Women in Community Colleges
Annual Presenter, National Institute for Leadership Development
Member, six-country higher education group studying sustainability management in Central America
Representative, Women’s Environment and Development Organization at 2007United Nations Department Commission on Sustainable Development
Member, Women Leading Sustainability (WLS)
Member, Honduras medical relief team, in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch
Board member and international reporter, Positive News U.S.
Member, Dining for Women, International Women’s Giving Circle
International Project Manager, Dr. Hunter (“Patch”) Adams’Afghanistan Relief Effort
Founder and director, CommunityWellnet
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