We Build Teams That Win: Strengthening Graduate Student Success Through Leadership Development
April 13, 2026
A cross-campus Ä¢¹½tv team worked together to design a leadership initiative that helps students succeed beyond the classroom.

Missy Korduner, Tyler Flynn, and Kristen Williams launched the Graduate Student Leadership Initiative (GSLI).
Following a graduate student survey in which 67% of respondents reported a positive experience, the Pinkie Gordon Lane Graduate School developed the Faculty Fellows for Student Success program.
Through this effort, the Graduate Student Leadership Initiative (GSLI) was launched by a team made up of:
- Missy Korduner, one of the selected Faculty Fellows, assistant professor of Professional Practice and MS Graduate program coordinator/academic advisor in the School of Leadership and Human Resource Development
- Tyler Flynn, program manager of Graduate Student Success
- Kristen Williams, director of Graduate Student Success
For their work supporting students, the team was recognized as part of Ä¢¹½tv’s We Build Teams That Win employee recognition program for their collaborative efforts and impact on student success.
The GSLI program is designed to expand leadership development, give students a sense of belonging, and achieve overall success at the graduate level – personally, professionally, and academically.
Grounded in strengths-based leadership, the GSLI is a semester-long initiative that helps students identify and develop their innate talents and strengths. The cohort-style program includes completing the Gallup CliftonStrengths assessment, which is designed to identify an individual’s top talent themes and natural patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving, participating in a 2.5-day conference-style workshop, developing a personalized leadership plan, and engaging in 1:1 coaching and a final group workshop before completing the program with a closing ceremony.
“This program has not only strengthened my leadership skills but has also given me clarity, confidence, and renewed motivation for my journey ahead,� one GSLI participant said.
For their work supporting students, the team was recognized as part of Ä¢¹½tv’s We Build Teams That Win employee recognition program for their collaborative efforts and impact on student success.
Initial data from the first cohort indicate a huge impact on student development and success. Participants showed a 15.5% increase in leader identity following the program’s conference experience, a 17.7% increase by the end of the semester, and a 29.9% increase in strengths awareness overall. The evaluation overall indicated students truly valued the experience, gained confidence, and had a better understanding of when and where to apply their strengths in a variety of settings.
At Ä¢¹½tv, ‘We Build Teams That Win in Louisiana, For the World.’
Recognizing the faculty and staff who make up these teams is vital in creating a culture of appreciation for our employees, fostering a positive work environment, improving morale, and motivating high performance.
As part of these efforts, Ä¢¹½tv established the Tiger Team Awards: Celebrating Teams That Win in conjunction with the Ä¢¹½tv Office of the President, Office of Human Resource Management, and Ä¢¹½tv Athletics.


