Title
Personal Development
Discover exciting opportunities for personal growth designed specifically for Illinois Extension staff! Engage in the Personal Development Series, featuring dynamic monthly workshops focused on wellness and career development. Connect and collaborate in the Education Advancement Community, an interactive online platform where staff can share experiences, access valuable resources, and foster ongoing learning, career advancement, and well-being. These programs are designed to inspire growth, support your professional journey, and enhance your overall wellness!
Personal Development Series
Join us each month for educational and inspirational speaker sessions designed to explore, enhance, and elevate Extension staff in all areas of personal development. From taking care of our physical and mental wellness to gaining education to enhance our careers, we offer something for everyone!
Each session will take place on the second Tuesday of the month from 10-11 AM. Registration is required to attend.
Learning Agility
Join us in March & April for this two-part Personal Development virtual training on Learning Agility. Jackie Billhymer & Becky Hinrichs from Illinois Human Resources Employee Learning & Organizational Effectiveness will help University of Illinois Extension employees understand, assess, and enhance their learning agility—an essential skill for adapting to change, collaborating effectively, and achieving success in an evolving work environment. Participants will gain practical tools to develop their mental, people, change, and results agility, enabling them to better respond to challenges and improve their professional growth. This session will empower attendees to recognize and strengthen their learning agility, improving their ability to respond to new challenges, collaborate across teams, and contribute effectively to the mission of the University of Illinois Extension.
Dates:
Tuesday, March 11
Tuesday, April 8
Each session will take place from 10-11 AM
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the four key components of learning agility—mental, people, change, and results—and their relevance to Extension work.
- Assess personal learning agility through self-reflection and a self-assessment tool to identify areas of strength and opportunities for improvement.
- Apply strategies to enhance learning agility, including fostering mental flexibility, building effective relationships, adapting to change, and focusing on results.
- Create a personalized action plan with SMART goals to further develop one area of learning agility, with accountability for progress and continuous improvement.
This two-part series is led by Sara Maxwell, Assistant Director, and Yasmin Ofiana, Program Assistant from Faculty/Staff Assistance and Well-Being Services (FSAWS). The sessions are designed to guide participants through self-reflection and personal growth, focusing on tools and techniques to reconnect with one’s authentic self.
Tuesday, May 13, 2025: Session One
Designed to invite curiosity, reflection, and self-discovery, this session will guide participants to explore the influences that divert attention and energy away from living genuinely. We will delve into common distractions such as societal expectations, digital media and self-doubt, examining how they shape our identities and choices.
Tuesday, June 10, 2025: Session Two
Intentionally created to build self-exploration and personal growth, this session will guide participants through reflective exercises and sharing opportunities to review personal discoveries of the barriers that have distanced them from their true self. Then, we will delve into techniques such as mindfulness, self-reflection, and creative expression to foster self-awareness and clarity—ultimately rediscovering a life aligned with your authentic self!
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Join Faculty/Staff Assistance and Well-Being Services (FSAWS) Assistant Director, Sara Maxwell and Program Assistant, Yasmin Ofiana, to learn about the support available to faculty and staff seeking to create and maintain sustainable, healthy habits. Together, we will:
- discover the goal and functions of FSAWS
- review the complimentary counseling services available to faculty, staff, retirees, and their household members
- explore the wellness activities, challenges, and programs available to help faculty and staff reach their goals—
in all eight dimensions of wellness!
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Education and Career Advancement
Extension employees can access many education and career advancement benefits including tuition waivers, graduate certificates, non-credit courses, and more.
Education Advancement Community
Would you like to be part of an online community of Extension staff who connect with colleagues,share experiences and advice, and access resources and support, while using the Employee Tuition Waiver?
We're here to help.
