Higher Ed Pulse

Live at NAGAP: A Millennial Manager's Approach to Empowering GEM Teams

Episode Summary

Live at the NAGAP GEM Summit, Mallory sits down with Ryan Taughrin, Assistant Dean for Enrollment Management at the University at Buffalo's Graduate School of Education. Ryan shares his experiences and challenges of being a millennial manager, especially navigating the abrupt transition to remote work at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. He discusses his approach to leadership, emphasizing flexibility, servant leadership, and the importance of balancing work life with personal life to empower his team.

Episode Notes

Live at the NAGAP GEM Summit, Mallory sits down with Ryan Taughrin, Assistant Dean for Enrollment Management at the University at Buffalo's Graduate School of Education. Ryan shares his experiences and challenges of being a millennial manager, especially navigating the abrupt transition to remote work at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. He discusses his approach to leadership, emphasizing flexibility, servant leadership, and the importance of balancing work life with personal life to empower his team.

Key Takeaways:

• Adapting to Change: Ryan was thrust into remote management just days after starting his role, highlighting the importance of adaptability in leadership.
• Servant Leadership: Focus on prioritizing people over processes to foster a supportive team environment.
• Professional Growth: Encourages continuous learning and professional development outside traditional academic resources.
• Empowering Flexibility: Implements a hybrid work model to accommodate different working styles and life commitments, demonstrating trust and respect for team autonomy.
• Community and Connection: Underlines the importance of creating connection points for teams, even in remote settings.
• Balancing Roles: Ryan shares personal anecdotes to model work-life balance, encouraging his team to manage work without sacrificing personal responsibilities.

Guest Name:  Ryan Taughrin, Assistant Dean for Enrollment Management  at the University at Buffalo's Graduate School of Education

Guest Bio: Ryan Taughrin is the Assistant Dean for Enrollment Management at the University at Buffalo's Graduate School of Education. He has spent the last decade working in graduate enrollment management. His primary focus areas are staff support and mentorship, recruitment practices for adult and non-traditional students, and developing programming to disenchant the hidden curriculum within graduate school admission. He has also spent the last seven years involved in NYGAP and NAGAP, hoping to build community with other folks across the GEM lifecycle. When he's not working, he loves spending time collecting records, enjoying bourbon with friends, riding his Peloton, and spending time with his family. And most important, Go Bills.