Agenda
Wednesday, June 11
- 8:30am – Doors Open / Breakfast Available
- 9:30am – Kick-Off & Overview of the Day (PAC Auditorium)
- 10:00am – Special Guests: LTG Leslie Smith & Jessica Mireles (PAC Auditorium)
- A session with special guests around growth mindset, innovation, and navigating change.
- 11:00am – Break
- 11:15am – Content Session I: Growth Mindset & High Performance Culture (choose one)
- I. High-Trust Teams: The Foundation of Growth – Jazzkia Jones (Ballroom)
- II. From Fixed to Flexible: Building a Growth Mindset – Jessica Mireles (PAC Auditorium)
- III. Embracing Feedback: A Mindset Shift for Personal and Team Growth – Angela Landers (Lecture Hall)
- 12:15pm – Lunch
- 1:15pm – Content Session II: Innovation in Practice
- Everyday Innovation: Creative Problem-Solving Within Your Role – Dr. John Banter (PAC Auditorium)
- 2:15pm – Break (SNACK)
- 2:30pm – Content Session III: Adaptive Performance and Change Readiness (choose one)
- I. Navigating Uncertainty: Adaptive Performance in Action – LTG Leslie Smith (Ballroom)
- II. The Art of Reprioritizing: Focus and Flexibility in a Fast-Paced Environment – Jessica Mireles (PAC Auditorium)
- III. Leading Through Change: Influence Without Authority – Angela Landers (Lecture Hall)
- 3:30pm – Wrap-Up (PAC Auditorium)
- 3:45pm – Dismissal & Bus Load
Transportation Information
Intercampus Shuttle for Armstrong
Bus transportation will be provided for employees traveling from the Armstrong Campus.
- Departure from Armstrong: 8:00 AM
- Return from Statesboro: 5:00 PM
Bus Information
Pickup Location: Intercampus Shuttle Stop
Bus Monitor: Lescia Gonzalez-Rivera
RSVP: Please check the attached RSVP list. If your name is missing, contact Emily Funke by 12:00 PM, Friday, June 6.
Parking at the Performing Arts Center
Parking is available in the Performing Arts Center/Nessmith-Lane Center event lots.
Breakout Session How-To’s
During Breakout Sessions I and III, you can attend the session that interests you most. All sessions will be recorded and available on this website for on-demand viewing. Browse the speaker bios below to help you choose which sessions to attend.
Guest Speakers
Lieutenant General Leslie C. Smith
Lieutenant General Leslie C. Smith, US Army (retired) currently serves as the Vice President for Leadership and Education, Association of the United States Army, visiting leadership professor at Parker College of Business – Georgia Southern University, director on several corporate boards and the CEO for LV Smith Consulting Group LLC. LTG Smith received his commission from Georgia Southern University (GSU) in 1983 as a Field Artillery Officer. In 1985, he graduated from GSU with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and as a distinguished military graduate and branched as a Chemical Officer.
LTG Smith’s final assignment on active duty from 2018 to 2021 was as The Inspector General, Office of the Secretary of the Army, the first Chemical Officer to serve in that position. As a general officer his assignments included the 25th Chief of Chemical and Commandant of the United States Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear School, Commanding General 20th Support Command (CBRNE) (responsible for leading Explosive Ordnance Disposal and CBRN Soldiers in 15 states and 3-5 countries), the Commanding General of the United States Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood, the first Chemical Officer to do so.
LTG Smith holds a Master of Science degree in administration from Central Michigan University and a Master of Arts degree in national security strategy from the National Defense University.
He is married to Vanedra; they have two grown daughters.
Jessica Mireles
Jessica Mireles is the Founder and President of JM Partner Solutions, a boutique consulting firm that helps colleges and universities solve enrollment challenges through strategic, personalized support. With over 30 years in higher education, Jessica has led national consulting engagements focused on enrollment growth, operational improvement, leadership development, and long-term institutional health.
Before launching JMPS in 2021, Jessica spent 11 years as a senior executive at Ruffalo Noel Levitz, where she advised more than 200 institutions—including UCLA, University of Arizona, Emory University, and University of Kentucky—on data-informed strategies to drive enrollment and revenue. Earlier in her career, she served as a Vice President for Enrollment Management at a private college in California, where she spent two decades building and leading successful enrollment teams.
Jessica is known for her direct, strategic approach and her ability to help campus leaders—from presidents to frontline staff—align around clear goals that lead to real results.
Jazzkia Jones
Jazzkia Jones is the Director of the Office of Inclusive Excellence, where she leads campus-wide efforts to strengthen collaboration, leadership development, and employee engagement. She partners with departments across the institution to support effective practices that strengthen organizational culture and create more responsive environments for both students and employees.
She holds a Master’s degree in Higher Education from the University of Pittsburgh and has experience working in both public and nonprofit organizations.
Her workshop, Aligned for Impact: Building High-Trust, High-Performance Teams, draws on her experience leading cross-functional teams and campus initiatives. Participants can expect practical tools and insights focused on building trust, increasing team cohesion, and managing performance with purpose.
Dr. John Banter
Dr. John Banter is the Director of Organizational Effectiveness at Georgia Southern University, where he leads strategic planning, leadership development, and institutional improvement initiatives. With a background in leadership development and a passion for data-informed decision-making, he supports faculty, staff, and senior leaders in advancing organizational goals. In addition to his work at Georgia Southern, John teaches graduate courses in leadership at The Citadel and volunteers his time with local civic organizations.
Angela Landers
Angela Landers is the Leadership and Institutional Development Program Director at the University System of Georgia. She has a passion for providing professional development on leadership development, emotional intelligence, building team culture and community, employee wellness, and professional goal setting and attainment. Having worked in higher education for over two decades, Angela combines her programming and psychology experience to provide a strengths-based approach grounded in theory. She designs and facilitates innovative, interactive programs that give participants concrete tools for moving theory into application.
Angela has presented at educational conferences throughout the state and internationally on employee wellness, specifically as it relates to burnout, chronic stress, self-care, and resilience. In 2019, she presented at the Ministry of Education’s Caribbean Well-Being Conference in St. Maarten. She enjoys focusing on the personhood of employees and how bringing in one’s natural strengths and skills can lead to increased work engagement, collegial connection, wellness, and life satisfaction.
Angela holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Psychology from Georgia Southern University. Prior to joining the USG, Angela served as the Assistant Director of Outreach and Community Engagement at the Counseling Center at Georgia Southern University.
