The Coach Is In Series
A series of authentic conversations for Michigan Engineering employees
The Coach Is In provides a welcoming space for staff to come together and learn from their colleagues. Guests bring their authentic selves and their stories, sharing how they have gotten to this point in their career and the lessons they have learned. The format is a conversation to enrich the Michigan Engineering staff experience and inspire the community through storytelling our shared experiences.
Session Information
Purpose, Positivity, and Propulsion
Wednesday, April 5th, 2023
11:30am - 12:30pm.
Growing up, Dean Alec Gallimore dreamed of becoming an astronaut — a mindset that has helped him navigate some of the wicked problems he’s encountered throughout his career.
In this conversation with Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering Alec Gallimore, we’ll talk about his approach to leadership and how his past shaped his future. Join Alec and Heidi as they discuss Alec’s dream to be an astronaut, his passion for social justice and building a culture of inclusivity at Michigan, and the people who have had a positive impact on his life.
Dr. Alec Gallimore
Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering
Richard F. and Eleanor A. Towner Professor of Engineering;
Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, Aerospace Engineering
Completed Sessions
Lisa Armstrong
EECS Department Administrator - ECE
Michigan Engineering
The “Can-Do” Attitude, Navigating Crises and Inspiring Others
Monday, February 6th, 2023
11:00am - 12:00pm.
Versatility is key, so it’s easy to see why Lisa Armstrong has been described as The Swiss Army Knife of Administrative Leaders. In addition to passionately inspiring staff members through staff development and engagement activities, Lisa also ensures that the department's culture and climate are being improved even during times of staff shortages and crisis situations. We invite you to join us as Lisa shares her journey and lessons learned with Dr. Heidi Sherick in The Coach Is In.
You Can't Read The Label If You're Inside The Bottle
Tuesday, December 6th, 2022
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Have you ever been so focused on your work that you look up one day and go "Woah! I've missed something big here!"? If so, you might be stuck inside a bottle of your own making without the ability to read the label. In this conversation with Kimberly Burton, Executive Director of Culture, Community and Equity, we'll talk about how to climb outside the bottle and why we all end up there in the first place. Join Kimberly and Heidi as they discuss Kimberly's wide-ranging career in philanthropy, non-profits, and, now, higher education, and how the simplest re-framing can create transformative results.
Kimberly L. Burton
Executive Director
Culture, Community and Equity
Michigan Engineering
Jon Merrill, M.Ed
DEI Project Manager
Computer Science & Engineering
Michigan Engineering
Cloudy with a Chance of Supervision
Thursday, September 29th, 2022
12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Just like the weather, navigating supervision is a regular part of our day. Whether you are on the giving or receiving end (or both!), it takes time and energy. However, it can sometimes feel difficult to talk about openly, especially when we consider power dynamics. Join Dr. Heidi Sherick and Jon Merrill as they have an honest conversation regarding all things supervision. Jon is Computer Science and Engineering's DEI Project Manager and is especially passionate about how we can approach supervision in a way that centers identity and acknowledges power differentials.
Plugging in to the Mission
Wednesday, April 6th, 2022
12 - 1 p.m.
Join Dr. Heidi Sherick, Director of Leadership Development, for a conversation with Bobby Kerns, Center Manager of the Michigan Center for Materials Characterization - (MC)².
How is what I am doing serving our mission today? That question can't be answered without first learning how to hear what the mission is; a message which is often hidden in everyday communication. While it sounds simple on the surface by nature the mission is dynamic, requiring flexibility and constant checks. Come hear how the missions on Bobby's path to (MC)² have shaped how he approaches management. Also, learn why Bobby's favorite word is decision.
Bobby Kerns
Center Manager, Michigan Center for Materials Characterization
Michigan Engineering
Michael and Melissa Lee
Facilities Manager
Facilities Management Office
Resource Planning & Management
Michigan Engineering
Administrative Assistant
CARE Center
Office of Student Affairs
Michigan Engineering
Lee’n on Me
Tuesday, February 1st, 2022
12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
Come one, come all! Listen and learn from not one but two contributing and leading staff members of Michigan Engineering: Michael and Melissa Lee. What makes them unique? Their partnership, dedication to serve, and critical positions within the college. Melissa serves in a student-facing support role and Michael serves in a facility support role; roles in high demand with high pressure! Join us as we discover how they navigate and continually rise to the occasion in the face of adversity and uncertain times.
No Grit, No Pearl
Wednesday, December 8th, 2021
12 - 1 p.m.
Join Dr. Heidi Sherick for a conversation with Jeanne Pearl Murabito, Executive Director for Student Affairs.
Jeanne will share her personal and professional story and who and what helped shape her.
Jeanne Murabito
Executive Director for Student Affairs
Office of Student Affairs
Michigan Engineering
Jonathan Fay
Executive Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship
Michigan Engineering
Balancing Innovation and Operations: Letting things evolve naturally
Thursday, October 14th, 2021
3 - 4 p.m.
Dr. Heidi Sherick will host Executive Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship, Jonathan Fay.
There is a natural tension between being inventive and innovative and being operationally excellent and efficient. Balancing these two can be challenging but very important to make sure that programs stay on the leading edge while serving the students and faculty the best we can with the resources we have. Come hear some experiences where this balance was achieved and some examples where it wasn't.
How Did I End Up Here? My Directionally Correct Journey
Thursday, September 9th, 2021
9 - 10 a.m.
Join Dr. Heidi Sherick, Director of Leadership Development, for a conversation with Debbie Mero, Sr. Executive Director of Resource Planning and Management. Debbie will share her professional and personal journey along with her perspective on leadership and management.
Debbie Mero
Sr. Executive Director of Resource Planning and Management
Michigan Engineering
Captain Rick Vanden Heuvel
US Navy, retired
Director of Research Development
Michigan Engineering
Myths of Military Leadership
Thursday, February 25th, 2021
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
There is a wide (mis)perception that military organizations can lead by edict and everybody follows because they have to. While the military chain of command is respected and effective, leading an all-volunteer force into harm's way requires a healthy understanding of motivational theory and servant leadership, which can be applied to our academic environment.
Join Dr. Heidi Sherick for a conversation with two of our many veteran CoE staff members, Captain Rick Vanden Heuvel (US Navy, retired, and current Director of Research Development) and Commander Chris Gordon (US Navy, retired, and current Director of the Wilson Student Team Project Center) about applying military leadership lessons to our work in the College of Engineering.
Commander Chris Gordon
US Navy, retired
Director of the Wilson Student Team Project Center
Michigan Engineering
Sound Judgement: Choosing a Learning Mindset
Wednesday, February 3, 2021
2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
We are excited to get to know Heather Wagenschutz, the College of Engineering Organizational Development Specialist and newest member of the team. Join us as we explore applicable ways to choose the path of a learner mindset. This session will pull useful techniques from the book, Change Your Questions, Change Your Life by Marilee Adams that you can start applying today.
Heather Wagenschutz
Organizational Development Specialist
Michigan Engineering
Martha “Marti” Moon
Facilities Manager
Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering
Michigan Engineering
Season of Gratitude: Born to Serve
Thursday, November 19, 2020
3 - 4 p.m.
Martha “Marti” Moon, Facilities Manager in the Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, is the longest serving staff member in the College of Engineering. She was hired as a self-proclaimed “Gal Friday” in 1966 and is still thriving as she started her 54th year in the College.
Join Dr. Heidi Sherick, Director of Leadership Development, in a conversation with Marti around the topic of gratitude, dedication, and service. Registration is required.
Promoting Civil Discourse: The ability to disagree without being disagreeable
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Creating a space for dialogue, exchange of thoughts and different perspectives, and providing opportunities to connect, are at the core of “The Coach is In” series. Please join us for this special panel as we focus on the topic of practicing collegiality and trustworthiness. We will engage with mutual respect through constructive dialogue that seeks to explore and understand diverse perspectives. Panelists will explore what each of us can do to help move beyond the difficulties of differing opinions to facilitate meaningful and civil conversations.
Panelists: Jennifer Judge Hensel, Executive Director, Communications & Marketing, Pauline Khan, Director of Lecturer Development, Byron Roberts, Deputy Chief of Staff, Tina Truskowski, Director of Human Resources
Moderated by: Dr. Heidi Sherick, Director of Leadership Development
Jon Kinsey
Chief of Staff
Michigan Engineering
An Hour with Jon Kinsey
September 2, 2020
10 - 11 a.m.
Join the conversation with Dr. Heidi Sherick and Michigan Engineering's Chief of Staff, Jon Kinsey.
He'll answer questions from staff about his unique view on leadership, managing teams and what it means to sustain excellence at the College of Engineering during an extraordinary time.
If You See Something, Do Something: A Path to Stopping Anti-Black Racism
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
10 - 11 a.m.
As the title of her workshops suggests by invoking U.S. Representative John Lewis's famous quote, Dr. Debby Covington will share her thoughts on how staff can start to think about bystander intervention using an anti-racist approach.
Dr. Debby Covington
Director of Partnerships, Outreach and Retention
Office of Student Affairs
Michigan Engineering
Angie Farrehi
CARE Center Director
Michigan Engineering
AUTHENTIC, GENUINE, REAL: Let's Talk about Mental Health During Times of Crisis
Thursday, August 20, 2020
3 - 4 p.m.
CARE Center Director, Angie Farrehi, will chat with Dr. Heidi Sherick, director of leadership development, about crisis management, phases of a disaster and the social ecology of disasters. They'll also discuss vulnerability and resilience. Attendees will learn about strategies for self-care during times of stress.
Facilitating the Learning Journey
Monday, August 10, 2020
2 - 3 p.m.
Dr. Carmeda Stokes will join Dr. Heidi Sherick to share her tips on practical ways participants can enjoy the lifelong learning process and the benefits of investing in your personal and professional development through micro-mentoring and micro-coaching experiences. Registration is required.
Dr. Carmeda Stokes
Strategic Initiatives Consultant Leadership Development & DEI
Organizational Learning
Peggy Sheagren
Director of Operations
University Human Resources
Working by Design: Naming Our New Positive Habits and Rituals during Trying Times
Wednesday, August 5, 2020
1 - 2 p.m.
University Human Resources Director of Operations, Peggy Sheagren, will join Dr. Heidi Sherick in a conversation about how navigating nationwide crises have led her to moments of growth, as a friend, mother of two boys, and campus leader.
Peggy will share thoughts on the new habits or rituals we've all developed out of necessity this year, and how - or what - to take with us into the future.
Supportive Conversations in Times of Stress and Change
Thursday, July 30, 2020
11 - 12 p.m.
A discussion with Dr. Kelcey Stratton
Join Dr. Heidi Sherick for an interactive forum with clinical psychologist and Michigan Medicine's Program Manager for Resiliency and Well-Being Services, Kelcey Stratton, about holding supportive conversations in these trying times.
The forum will address how to have emotional discussions, recognize signs of stress in yourself, and understand the ways stress impacts you.
Dr. Kelcey Stratton
Clinical psychologist and Michigan Medicine's Program Manager for Resiliency and Well-Being Services
Discussion of Unlocking Resources for Recovery, Renewal, and Resilience
Monday, July 20, 2020
10 - 12:30 p.m.
Following the Unlocking Resources for Recovery, Renewal, and Resilience webinar, presented by the Center for Positive Organizations at the University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business and the Managerial and Organization Cognition (MOC) Division of the Academy of Management, we'll discuss the impact of concurrent national crises and how to continue investing in your work during uncertainty.
You'll need to register separately for the Unlocking Resources for Recovery, Renewal, and Resilience event. Click on the Ross School image to sign up for the free webinar on Mon., July 20 from 10-11:30 a.m.