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OIA applauds USVI graduates of Executive Leadership Program
The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs applauds and congratulates seven new graduates from the U.S. Virgin Islands who successfully completed the Executive Leadership Program. A virtual commencement honoring these current and future leaders in public service was held on Friday June 11, 2021.
“Congratulations on your completion of the Executive Leadership Program. You have now acquired new perspectives and the potential to help strengthen your government’s institutions,” said acting assistant secretary Nikolao Pula. “We look forward to working with each of you in advancing the success of the USVI’s public sector to better serve the people of the Virgin Islands.”
Seven USVI participants joined 60 aspiring leaders from throughout the U.S. federal government to comprise the graduating cohort of 2020-2021. Meetings occurred virtually over the course of the past year engaging students in classroom instruction, individual and team assignments, executive interviews, as well as shadowing and developmental assignments to strengthen leadership skills.
Since 2009, OIA has supported the participation of Virgin Islands middle-management leaders for a total of 26 who have completed the program. The USVI ELP was established to addresses challenges in attracting and retaining qualified individuals to work in core leadership functions. Participation is funded through the Office of Insular Affairs’ Technical Assistance Program and administered by the Graduate School USA’s Center for Leadership and Management.
The 2020-2021 USVI Executive Leadership cohort members are:
Erika Benjamin Callwood – USVI Territorial Emergency Management Agency
Tamar Corry – USVI Department of Finance
Esther Felix Donelly – USVI Department of Property and Procurement.
Deviqua Parris – USVI Department of Property & Procurement
Kizma L. Petersen – USVI Department of Property and Procurement
Joy Wheatley – USVI Public Finance Authority
Wendy Wheeler – USVI Economic Development Authority
Additional information on the Executive Leadership Program and the Pacific & Virgin Islands Training Initiatives can be found online at https://pitiviti.org/about-the-eldp. (PR)
