The Belmont Formation Collaborative debuts Emerging Leader Development Program (ELDP) to invest in campus leaders
The Employee Leadership Development Team recently celebrated the graduation of the inaugural cohort of the Emerging Leader Development Program (ELDP) – a new initiative designed to equip Belmont employees with the foundational skills needed to step confidently into leadership. Seventeen leaders, representing eleven departments across campus, were nominated by their supervisors to participate in the four-month program.
A New Leadership Milestone
Emerging Leader Development Program Fall ’25 Cohort:
- Gage Baxter – Managing Director, Fisher Center
- Peter Loomis – Assistant Director, Facility Operations and Recreational Programming
- James Woody – Senior Associate Athletic Director for Administration
- Lindsay Curtis – Marketing Manager, University Marketing
- Derian Hamblin – Assistant Director of Student Engagement, Student Formation
- Felicia Bergman – Assistant Athletic Director, Academic Success
- Amy Lewis – Assistant Director of Health Services
- Samantha Cheek – Dean’s Office Coordinator, Inman College of Nursing
- Nick Denton – University Ticketing Manager, Strategic Venues and Event Services
- Matthew Rollins – Event Operations, Strategic Venues and Event Services
- Kim Powell – Assistant Director, Interdisciplinary Studies and Global Education
- Lisa Donahoo – Director of Global Engagement, Global Innovation
- Kelli Davis – Director of Auxiliary Services Technology and Business Analytics
- Aaron Jerome – Director of Business Operations, Auxiliary Services
- Ileia Hook – Associate Vice President, Strategic Venues & Event Services
- Jamie Adam – Director, Student Success & Flourishing, Inman College of Nursing
- Tara Jenkins – Business Manager, Inman College of Nursing
United in the Pursuit of Growth
Although participants represented a wide range of professional backgrounds and responsibilities, they shared a common desire to grow as leaders and contribute meaningfully to Belmont’s mission. With support from the Formation Collaborative – and rooted in its commitment to form leaders of character, competence, and commitment to the common good – the ELDP offered a structured space to reflect, share openly, and apply new insights in real time.
For Associate Vice President for Strategic Venues and Events, Ileia Hook, the program provided a rare and meaningful space for development amid the fast pace of campus life.
“Belmont is a growing campus with mission-centric priorities that motivate our community to give 100% every day,” Hook shared. “When our calendars are filled to the brim, it can be difficult to step away… but investing time in ELDP is well worth it.”
Bridging the Leadership Gap
The program was designed and led by Dr. Jeremy Fyke, Director of Character-Centered Leadership, and Cora Williams, Presidential Fellow for Character and Leadership to address a familiar challenge in organizations. “People get promoted – new title, new responsibilities – but receive no training on how to do it well” Fyke said. “The ELDP fills that gap.”
Leveraging Feedback Through Community-Based Learning
Throughout the four-month experience, participants engaged in content and exercises centered on three core areas: leading self, leading others, and leading impact. Each participant created an Individual Development Plan to articulate personal leadership goals and track progress through structured feedback sessions with their supervisors. Learning pods – small, consistent peer groups – added accountability and teamwork to the experience.
“When it comes to leadership development, don’t go it alone,” Fyke encouraged. “Accountability is critical to any development journey. When you pair high-quality content with group accountability, it helps drive the transfer of learning back to where it really counts – on the job.”
Hook echoed this emphasis on community:
“The ELDP framework includes several key elements to support a culture of feedback and introspection,” she said. “From supervisor support and one-on-one rhythms to peer-based learning communities, these relationships became natural avenues for trust, challenge, and feedback that will continue beyond the structured experience.”
Embracing Challenge and Connection
For Nick Denton, University Ticketing Manager, the ELDP helped normalize the inevitable challenges of stepping into leadership.
“Hearing from other great leaders around campus, I realized that the snags or hurdles I faced in my leadership early on were actually pretty normal. Getting feedback and advice from fellow leaders helped me gain the confidence to face these hurdles head-on.”
Denton also noted the immediate, practical impact of the program:
“The resources and tools the program has given me are invaluable,” he shared. “From the first day, I took activities and lessons provided and used them with my team. It’s already yielding great results and helping us shape our culture in positive ways.”
Renewal for Seasoned Leaders
For longtime Belmont leader Kim Powell, Assistant Director of Interdisciplinary Studies and Global Education, the ELDP renewed a sense of clarity and connection.
“The ELDP helped me become more intentional and self-aware in my leadership. It reminded me of tools I’ve practiced in the past and gave me a renewed sense of purpose. I also gained a supportive network of colleagues who will continue to be valuable partners moving forward.”
Honoring Personal Growth and Shared Joy
At the program’s closing ceremony, each participant received an ‘Ebenezer Stone,’ engraved with their name and “ELDP Fall 2025” as a physical marker of inner formation. Cora Williams explained the significance of the gift.
“The stones felt like the perfect way to honor both their individual growth and the shared journey they’ve taken together. In 1 Samuel 7:12, Samuel places a stone of remembrance and says, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.’ This small stone is a joyful reminder of how far they’ve come. It’s a symbol that connects their leadership development to something lasting, rooted, and deeply personal.”
Lighting the Path Forward
More than preparing participants for new roles, Fyke hopes that graduates leave with a deeper understanding of purpose.
“I hope they have a clearer sense of who they are as leaders – who God created them to be – and they feel equipped to step into and excel in that awesome responsibility.”
As the Emerging Leader Development Program continues to grow, the Formation Collaborative remains committed to forming members of the Belmont community and equipping them to lead with character, purpose, and a transformational mindset.
Learn More
Learn more about upcoming Employee Leadership Development Opportunities