By Claire McGranahan

For several years, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Iowa has supported rising leaders by sending them to The Way Up Conference as part of their professional development.

Each year, four scholarships are awarded through the conference, providing complimentary registration, one night’s stay in a nearby hotel, and the opportunity to speak to conference attendees.

Recognizing leadership potential

This year, the Eunice A. Dell Memorial Scholarship Program award, which honors young professionals in Iowa higher education who aspire to leadership or administrative roles, was presented to first-time attendee Mandy Powers, administrator for the Department of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures, and Cultures, as well as for the Department of Spanish and Portuguese.

Eunice Dell, for whom the award was named, served as Assistant Vice President for Administration and Finance, as well as Assistant Vice President and Faculty and Staff Disabilities Coordinator at the University of Northern Iowa. She played a key role in planning several past The Way Up conferences and chaired the 20^th and 21^st events.

“Leadership is not a position—it’s a practice,” Powers said in her acceptance speech. “It grows in the questions we ask, the support we offer, and the environment we help build. When we lead from where we are, we strengthen the leaders around us. At every stage in our careers, we have the ability to lead—not by knowing everything, but by choosing curiosity and care.”

First-time attendees share insights

Other CLAS professionals also attended the conference for the first time, including Kate Casaletto, graduate program coordinator in the Department of Political Science.

“The conference had an incredible energy that made my first experience both engaging and inspiring,” Casaletto said. “Of all the sessions I attended, two stood out the most: ‘The AI-Powered Leader: Using AI for Personal Productivity and Leadership Presence,’ presented by our own Victoria Maloy, and ‘Powers and Pitfalls of Yes: Navigating Leadership Growth with Intention,’ presented by Dr. Emily Mason of Indian Hills Community College. Both sessions provided valuable insights that I plan to apply in my role and share with colleagues to enhance our work environment.”

Katie Bottorff, administrator for the School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability, appreciated the conference’s interactive format.

“Each session I went to had built in time for attendees to chat with each other, which was probably my favorite part, as it allowed me to learn from others that I wouldn’t normally be connected with.”

Powers agreed, noting that the audience was broader than in many higher education conferences.

“There were folks from all aspects of higher ed, not just current administrative professionals. Grad students, HR representatives, IT consultants, faculty, student success professionals, and more were all present at this conference,” she said. “Supporting leaders on the way up doesn’t mean standing back and observing. It means being willing to ask needed questions, widen the lens, and make space for shared understanding. Be the one who helps shape the environment that leaders grow in. That is leadership, too.”