Professional & Personal Development

Professional Development Workshops

January 17, 2023 Workshops

  • 2-2:30 p.m. – Intro StrengthsFinder Group Session
    • In-Person Location: R.W. Corns Building 312
    • Virtual Access: Zoom Link
    • Faciltators: Leigh Mascolino (OWU) and Nancy Rutkowski (OWU)
    • Pre-work (to be completed two-five days before the session)
      Please take the Strengths Assessment prior to attending and bring your Top 5 Strengths to the session. Sign in using your OWU email address.
    • At OWU, we are working to develop a Strengths Based Campus. This means that students, faculty, and staff all understand their strengths and can leverage them to reach their full potential.  According to the Gallup Organization, "we spend too much time focusing on our weaknesses, trying to make them stronger rather than recognizing our strengths." When you focus on your weaknesses, you miss out on utilizing what you do best for yourself and your organization.

      This workshop will offer an introduction and overview to the Clifton StrengthsFinder inventory.  By focusing on your strengths, you will gain a better understanding of yourself, the value you bring, and how to work most productively with your colleagues. You will come away with a deeper understanding of your top 5 strengths and how to leverage these to work "smarter" in the new year!

  • 2-2:30 p.m. – Continuous Improvement Workshop
  • 2:45-3:15 p.m. – Supervisory/Leader StrengthsFinder Group Session
    • In-Person Location: R.W. Corns Building 312
    • Virtual Access: Zoom Link
    • Faciltators: Leigh Mascolino (OWU) and Nancy Rutkowski (OWU)
    • Pre-work (to be completed two-five days before the session)
      Please take the Strengths Assessment prior to attending and bring your Top 5 Strengths to the session. Sign in using your OWU email address.
    • “The most successful leaders know how to best direct their dominant talents to engage the hearts, minds, and talents of their employees.” – Gallup

      As a supervisor or leader, it is important to understand where you shine and where you may have blind spots. It is equally essential to recognize the needs of your colleagues and how to foster fulfillment at work. According to Gallup, there are 12 questions that measure engagement. We will review these questions and discuss strategies that can be used going forward. You will come away with tools and a deeper insight into how you can create positive change and growth within your teams.

  • 2:45-3:15 p.m. – An Overview of the OWU Employee Assistance Plan: Here for You – 24/7/365
    • Virtual Access: OWU EAP Session 1 (Meeting ID: 265 954 286 238, Passcode: jT9QaN, Download Teams | Join on the web, Join with a video conferencing device (110342258@t.plcm.vc, Video Conference ID: 116 673 837 9, Alternate VTC instructions)
    • Faciltator: Beth Plotner (Guardian Insurance)
    • The Employee Assistance Plan is a resource available for all OWU employees and members of their household.

      Attend this session to learn more about the wide array of services, support that is available to you as an OWU employee.

      Open to all OWU employees.

  • 3:30-4 p.m. – Making the Systems Work for You: Refresher on P-Cards, Purchase Orders, and Requisitions
    • Virtual Access: Zoom Link
    • Faciltators: Betsy Reser (OWU) and Richard Fletcher (OWU)

  • 3:30-4 p.m. – Understanding Your Benefits: Life Insurance, Free Will Prep.
  • 4-4:30 p.m. – Chair Yoga
    • In-Person Location: Hamilton-Williams Campus Center Benes C
    • Faciltator: Emily Hanafin
    • Boost your physical and mental well-being.

      Learn to use your chair for seated poses or balancing poses. Learn about the many benefits yoga provides, such as increased circulation; feelings of well-being; and decreases in blood pressure, anxiety, inflammation, and chronic pain.

  • 4-4:30 p.m. – An Overview of the OWU Employee Assistance Plan: Here for You – 24/7/365
    • Virtual Access: OWU EAP Session 2 (Meeting ID: 253 267 581 745, Passcode: uUgBy7, Download Teams | Join on the web, Join with a video conferencing device (110342258@t.plcm.vc, Video Conference ID: 111 156 990 1, Alternate VTC instructions or call in (audio only) at +1 347-973-7075,,643609218# US, New York City, Phone Conference ID: 643 609 218#)
    • Faciltator: Beth Plotner (Guardian Insurance)
    • The Employee Assistance Plan is a resource available for all OWU employees and members of their household.

      Attend this session to learn more about the wide array of services, support that is available to you as an OWU employee.

      Open to all OWU employees.
  • 4:30-5 p.m. – Understanding Your Benefits: Life Insurance, Free Will Prep.

Previous Workshop Presentations

January 2020

  • In conjunction with last year’s Staff Recognition Luncheon, the staff council professional development committee hosted five workshops for all OWU staff. We are pleased to provide presentations from four of the workshops:

If you have suggestions for future workshops, please submit them via the Ask OWU Staff Council form.

TIAA Hot Topic Webinars

Available in TIAA’s Live Webinar Lounge.

Technical Training

Information Services offers various opportunities for professional development for faculty, staff, and students throughout the year. Please click here to see current options, including schedule and registration information.

OWU Libraries

The OWU Libraries provide access to a variety of resources (books, articles, video, etc.) on various topics, including those focusing on higher education. The majority of resources can be accessed via the research tools featured prominently on the Libraries’s home page.  For assistance locating a specific resource or using our research tools, please contact the Libraries at libraries@owu.edu or call 740-368-3225 and a librarian will be happy to help.

Featured Resources:

Lynda.com (free for anyone with a Delaware County District Library Card)

Lynda.com is a massive collection of more than 12,000 online video courses led by industry experts and designed for any skill level. For example, if you wanted to learn more about how to use Microsoft Excel, there are thousands of video courses on this software. Some cover advanced topics, like how to use data validation tools, while others aim to help beginners use basic Excel functions. In short, if you want to learn how to do something on the computer, Lynda.com can show you how to do it.

Lynda.com also provides thousands of courses on business skills including marketing, project management, accounting, business management, and leadership. There are more than 2,000 courses on how to start a business ranging from finding and testing your business idea to business law for managers.

Whether you're looking to jump into a new career or sharpen your skills, Lynda.com can be your guide. Learn more about how to use Lynda.com here. 

Resources from CBIZ Retirement Plan Services (CBIZ RPS)

CBIZ Retirement Plan Services (CBIZ RPS) has been hired as a third party independent advisor to the Ohio Wesleyan University Retirement Plan Committee (The Committee).  CBIZ RPS acts as a 3(21) fiduciary to the plan and assists in the selection, monitoring, and replacement of plan investments based on a custom and rigorous due diligence process.  CBIZ RPS also assists The Committee with managing and negotiating all plan related fees so that participants are consistently receiving a competitive product.  In addition to supporting The Committee, CBIZ RPS is able to supplement the TIAA education and advice offering by providing group presentations, the CBIZ Retirement News Letter, and by offering plan related investment advice as needed.

CBIZ Retirement Matters Newsletter