Certificate News August 2021
Program Information
The Local Government Management Certificate Program is gearing up for the Fall semester and continuing our recruitment efforts and answering questions about the Local Government Management Certificate Program through a virtual webinar led by Dr. Stephanie Davis. If you are interested or have team members that are interested, please invite them to these sessions or reach out to Dr. Davis (sddavis@vt.edu) to set up an information session for your organization. Please find our Fall sessions below:
● Wednesday, September 15th at noon.
Zoom Link: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/2082720184
● Wednesday, October 13th at noon.
Zoom Link: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/2082720184
● Wednesday, November 17th at noon.
Zoom Link: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/2082720184
LOOKING FORWARD
Starting in September, the VT ICMA Student Chapter will continue monthly meetings with Managers from across the Commonwealth to further engage students in local government, provide professional development opportunities, and networking events between chapters. We are seeking volunteers for guest speakers. Please contact Victoria McNiff at mcniffva@vt.edu if you are interested in mentoring a graduate student or interested in being a guest speaker (Victoria will also reach out to you directly as well).
BOB STRIPLING SCHOLARSHIP FUND
The VLGMA Scholarship Committee shares the opportunity to contribute to the Bob Stripling Scholarship Fund for the Local Government Management Graduate Certificate Program. The Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to students currently employed with a Virginia local jurisdiction.The scholarships are funded by individuals and private sector business donations who share in our goal to prepare the next generation of local government leaders. In FY2020, over 48 students received assistance equaling $40,797! The updated Scholarship Fund brochure with student testimonials, a scholarship breakdown, and how to donate or obtain more information is posted on the VLGMA scholarship webpage: https://www.vlgma.org/stripling-scholarship
Stephanie Davis, Ph.D, Collegiate Assistant Professor and Program Director for the Graduate Certificate in Local Government Management at Virginia Tech, has been selected as a 2021 International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Research Fellow. The project "Strategic Planning for Small Communities" will provide local government managers and elected officials with recommendations on identifying a mission, vision, and values and how to set goals and strategies to achieve the overall vision for a community. The Fellowship timeline is July 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021. For more information on the Fellowship visit https://icma.org/icma-local-government-research-fellows.