January 27, 2026

We are delighted to announce the selected participants for the 2026 Professional Staff Leadership Academy (PSLA). The academy plays a vital role in building a robust pathway for developing dynamic, transformational leaders among academic professional and professional civil service staff across the University of Illinois System.

This year’s applicant pool was exceptionally strong, and the PSLA Steering Committee faced the rewarding challenge of selecting just 20 participants from a highly competitive group of candidates. Please join us in congratulating the following individuals who have been chosen to participate in the 2026 PSLA cohort.

Urbana-Champaign

• Jamar Brown, Facilities Operation Coordinator, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Rosalind Garcia-Tosi, Chief of Staff, Carle Illinois College of Medicine
• Kara Haley, Associate Director for Research, Grainger College of Engineering
• Dan Harmon, Director of Data and Systems, Sponsored Programs Administration
• Stephanie Hess, Ph.D., Director, Division of Research Safety (DRS), OVCRI
• Jason Mock, Assistant Dean of Teaching & Learning and Chief Learning Innovation Officer, Gies College of Business
• Konstantinos Yfantis, Director of Operations, Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning (CITL)

Chicago

• Regina L. Davis, MPP, HACP, Business Administrative Associate, UI Health
• Sharrone Davis, Physical Therapist and Coordinator of Clinical Education, UI Health Physical Therapy Program
• Jessica Eisenbeis, Associate Director of Online Programs and Student Advising
• Stuart Robinson, Associate Director of Academic Services and Faculty Affairs, Division of Community Health Sciences, UIC School of Public Health
• Dr. Sierra R. Ryan, Director, Council on Teacher Education
• Janaya L. Shaw, Ed.D., Director of TRIO and Interim Director of the African American Academic Network
• Tim Sullivan, Executive Director of Specialty Graduate Programs, University of Illinois College of Medicine

Springfield

• Patty Meyer, Facility Director of Operations, Facilities and Services
• Marie L. Watson, Director of Student Life
• Jamie Weber, Senior Business Manager, Library Administration

System Offices

• Stacey Ballmes, Associate Director, Business and Finance Policy Office
• Kathryn (Kat) Mathews, Coordinator of Asset Management and Administrative Support, Administrative IT Services (AITS)
• Athanazia Varner, Assistant Director of Cashier Operations, University Bursar

More information about the Professional Staff Leadership Academy can be found on the System HR website.

With congratulations,

Jami Painter

Senior Associate Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer

System Human Resource Services