DePaul University Staff Council > Get Involved > Professional Development & Staff Leadership Opportunities

Professional Development & Staff Leadership Opportunities

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Staff Council aims to help staff from across DePaul University get involved with potential leadership and professional development opportunities. If you have a staff opportunity you would like to see posted here, please e-mail the details to staffcouncil@depaul.edu.

Opportunities with upcoming deadlines

New Student and Family Engagement (NSFE) is starting the process of selecting Chicago Quarter Staff Professionals for Fall 2026.

Staff participation in the Chicago Quarter program remains a priority, and NSFE has worked to design this role so that it honors staff contributions in new ways.  Starting in the Fall, CQMs will deliver Common Hour with support and input from the Chicago Quarter instructor.  While Staff Professionals will no longer regularly attend class or excursions, they’ll be assigned to a small group of CQMs to mentor and support outside of the classroom.  Staff Professionals will also support the team by serving as a liaison between CQMs and instructors and attending one-two Common Hour sessions per CQM, for observation purposes.

Though there will be significantly fewer Staff Professional positions available for Fall 2026 (about 20 total), the role will continue to provide essential support to both CQMs and new students.  This position is open to any staff member at the university, with priority given to those who have previously served as Chicago Quarter Staff Professionals, particularly within the last three years.

If you’re interested in being considered for the Staff Professional role, you must attend one Zoom info session (see options below). Interested staff will be asked to complete a short application afterwards. 

Date Time RSVP link
Thursday, April 16th 12:00-12:30 pm https://cglink.me/2cC/r399793
Tuesday, April 21st 12:00-12:30 pm https://cglink.me/2cC/r399794
Thursday, April 23rd 12:00-12:30 pm https://cglink.me/2cC/r399795

NSFE is grateful for the staff support and engagement they have received in the past, and they look forward to working with staff in this new role. If you have questions, contact NSFE@depaul.edu  

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2025-2026 Staff Council's Aspasia LeCompte Award, which honors the memory of freedom fighter Aspasia LeCompte, who was held in bondage by Vincentian priests, and after having filed multiple freedom suits over a period of twelve years, won liberty for her and her family in 1839.

This award was established to recognize an individual who has demonstrated, over the past year, outstanding achievements, initiatives, and sustained commitment to the mission and advocacy of civil and human rights within the DePaul community. The recipient will be a staff member who embraces equity and inclusion as fundamental elements of DePaul's mission and is intended to recognize those who go beyond their assigned duties to promote these principles.  

Submit your nomination here by Friday, May 22. 

Honorees will receive a monetary award and be recognized at the annual Academic Convocation in September 2026 and must be employed at DePaul at the time of convocation to receive their awards. 

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2025-2026 Staff Excellence Award. These awards honor staff members whose service to the university represents the highest standards of quality and effectiveness.  

Although consistent quality performance is given weight, nominations should be based on performance in an officially recognized staff capacity for the 2025-26 academic year. 

Considerations may include the level of innovation, the degree of initiative required, collaboration with others, connection to DePaul's mission, or institutional impact (especially on students). 

The deadline for nominations is Friday, May 22, 2026.  Please submit nominations electronically to Staff Council through this online nomination form.  

If multiple colleagues wish to support a single nominee, please coordinate to submit one comprehensive nomination package rather than separate submissions. 

All nominations must include: 

  • Written endorsement by the nominee's supervisor
  • Written endorsement by at least one colleague (for single-staff departments, supervisor endorsement alone is sufficient)

Nominations are strengthened by evidence of quality service performed, such as:

  • Emails of commendation
  • Letters of support
  • Documented outcomes (e.g., cost savings, operational effectiveness, student impact)
  • Any other supporting materials

Honorees will receive a monetary award and be recognized at the annual Academic Convocation in September 2026 and must be employed at DePaul at the time of Convocation to receive their awards.

The Spirit of DePaul Award, awarded by the Division of Mission & Ministry, is also conferred to faculty and staff at Academic Convocation. This award recognizes members of the DePaul Community for their leadership and service in the spirit of Saint Vincent de Paul.

For information about eligibility and requirements, please review the nomination form or contact Katie Brick. Nominations are due May 8.


Ongoing opportunities

Through BlueSky Learning, employees can access required training as well as professional development content on a variety of topics, including customer service, diversity and inclusion, human resource management and fiscal administration, interpersonal communication, leadership and management, ongoing professional development and training, and personal development. Access BlueSky Learning by navigating to https://mybluesky.depaul.edu, then clicking Me > Learning.

The Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity offers the BUILD Diversity Certificate, a professional development diversity certificate available to all DePaul staff and faculty.  The certificate program helps participants develop cultural competencies, offering the tools necessary for linking diversity to organizational and work performance, and connecting the university's Vincentian mission of dignity and respect for all individuals to our core operating business principles.

There is a Level 1 certifcate program, as well as an advanced Level 2 certificate.  Courses may also be taken individually for those who do not want to pursue the full certificate program.

Detailed information about certificate requirements, course descriptions, and schedules can be found on the BUILD website.

The Assessment Certificate Program (ACP) is a workshop-based program designed to provide training and support for faculty and staff engaged in the assessment of student learning.  This program is a collaboration between multiple departments at DePaul University and Loyola University Chicago.  To learn more about how to register and complete the certificate, visit the Assessment Certificate Program website.

Learn about the variety of certificate programs offered on the Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) website.  E-mail cperegistration@depaul.edu with any questions not answered on the website.

Connect with other DePaul parents and network on topics related to parenthood.  For more information, visit the DePaul Parent Connection website.

Learn about upcoming events and how to join on the DePaul Women's Network website.  E-mail DPUWomensNetwork@depaul.edu with any questions not answered on the website.

The Division of Mission and Ministry has numerous opportunities available for staff, including:
  • Staff Mentor for Service Immersion Trips: Accompany DePaul students as they travel over Winter or Spring Break to serve, learn about social justice, and build community together! This Division of Mission and Ministry program selects approximately 8 Staff Mentors every year. Staff Mentors attend pre-/post-trip meetings and travel with their immersion group for 1 week. They support their trip’s student leader, gain professional development experience, manage the trip budget and other logistics, and serve/learn alongside the group. DMM covers the cost of the Staff Mentor’s participation. Please contact Abby Rampone at arampone@depaul.edu with any questions.
  • Heritage Tours and Vincentian Mission Institute:  The Division of Mission and Ministry offers regular opportunities for members of the university community to deepen their understanding of the university’s patron, by participating in guided Vincentian Heritage study tours to locations in Paris and throughout France associated with the life and works of St. Vincent de Paul.
  • Lunch with Vincent: A quarterly lunch dialogue program designed to foster reflection and conversation on Vincentian spirituality and its practical application to our life and work, while also enabling DePaul faculty and staff to connect with one another from across the university in meaningful dialogue and interaction.  Review upcoming dates and RSVP details on the Lunch with Vincent website.
  • A Day with Vincent: This day-long retreat experience seeks to help participants find the time and space in the midst of their busy lives to reflect more deeply on Vincentian spirituality and mission and enable them to meet and engage with other DePaul faculty and staff from across the institution.  Information and registration details for upcoming workshops can be found on the A Day with Vincent website.  E-mail Tom Judge at tjudge@depaul.edu with any questions.

Health Promotion and Wellness (HPW) provides holistic education, support, and resources for individuals to establish and sustain long-term, healthy behaviors, including hosting a number of trainings and workshops open to staff. View their events calendar here.

Staff are invited to use the Idea Realization Lab and attend Idea Realization Lab workshops at no cost. 

LinkedIn Learning is a resource available to DePaul staff looking to develop skills. Topics include Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, social media, web design, animation, photography, audio and video production, project management, leadership, marketing and communication, just to name a few.  DePaul employees and students have free unlimited access to a vast online library of instructional videos covering the latest software, creative and business skills.

Log In through the DePaul LinkedIn Learning Campus Portal using your BlueKey login credentials.  Take LinkedIn Learning everywhere you go with apps to stream or download courses for offline viewing. Download the LinkedIn Learning mobile app for iOS or Android.

  • Open the LinkedIn Learning app.
  • Select Sign in.
  • Select Organization Login.
  • When prompted for your organization's URL, type: depaul.edu
  • Log in using your BlueKey login credentials (username@depaul.edu email address and password).
Offered during the Autumn Quarter, Chicago Quarter courses acquaint first-year students at DePaul with the metropolitan community, its neighborhoods, cultures, people, institutions, organizations and urban issues. Students also learn about university life, resources and how to be a successful student through the Common Hour portion of each Chicago Quarter course.
 
See the Chicago Quarter website for more details on how to become a Staff Professional.  Information sessions on how to become a Staff Professional are generally held throughout the month of February.  E-mail nsfe@depaul.edu for more information on session dates and locations.

The Office of Student Employment (OSE) invites staff who are currently managing (or planning to manage) student employees to participate in any or all of the initiatives offered below: 

1. Training Modules: These trainings teach managers the most effective ways of hiring and managing student employees.

2. Manager Support Network: The OSE Manager Support Network (MSN) offers monthly, virtual lunch n' learn sessions for managers of student employees to learn together, build community, and develop management skills. Each month, MSN offers a themed topic and time for Q&A with fellow managers and OSE staff.  Learn more about upcoming MSN sessions here. 

3. DePaul GROW® Program: DePaul GROW® is a nationwide initiative that helps students connect learning across contexts: academics, campus jobs, and career goals. GROW® transforms a student job into a high-impact practice through intentional interventions.  Managers are vital to this process by leading a series of conversations with their student employees.  Managers can join the initiative and help elevate student employee learning and career readiness.  Learn more about joining GROW® here.  

Staff Council serves as the official liaison between staff and other university constituencies by advocating for staff, participating in shared governance, and engaging with staff about issues faced in the workplace.  Learn more about Staff Council, its upcoming meetings and events, and annual election information on the Staff Council website.

Did another staff member at the university do something stellar and you want to acknowledge their excellent performance? Submit a "Staff Shout-Out" form to celebrate them and simply acknowledge great work! There is no limit to how many times you can say "You are terrific at your job."

An email will be sent to your shout-out nominee. If you are unsure of the recipient's email, you can look them up in the Outlook directory.

Study Abroad has opportunities each year for staff to help lead short-term study abroad programs as a Staff Professional.  Staff Professionals partner with a faculty member to help teach class content through a Global Hour curriculum, then travel abroad with the group in a leadership role at the end of the quarter. 
  • FY@broad programs: FY@broad programs are short study abroad programs designed for first-year students, which combine travel with a Focal Point Seminar—a required course for most first-year students.  To apply to become a Staff Professional, go to the Staff Professional application page. 
  • Identities Abroad programs: Identities Abroad programs are short study abroad programs designed for, but not limited to, students of color, first generation students, and low-income students, which combine travel with a Seminar on Race, Power, and Resistance—a required course for most students.  To apply to become a Staff Professional, go to the Staff Professional application page.  

E-mail Scott Ozaroski at s.ozaroski@depaul.edu for additional information.

Information about values-centered leadership certification and training programs can be found on the Vincent on Leadership training website.  E-mail Pat Bombard at hayleadership@depaul.edu with any questions.

Learn about Workplace Learning training options on the Office of Human Resources Workplace Learning website.  E-mail training@depaul.edu with any questions not answered on the website.