Mission

A comprehensive and collaborative resource focused on developing faculty and staff who desire to bring the best of who they are to every situation.

Vision

As innovative leaders in the Professional and Organizational Development field, we strive to enhance the overall educational mission of the institution through an evolving learning community that supports faculty and staff.

About the PDC

The PDC is a collective resource between the Human Resources Department and the Office of the Provost.  To support its wide-reaching University constituents, a committee consisting of faculty, staff, and administrators has formed to centralize, identify, and support diverse professional development needs. A list of the current committee members can be found below the staff descriptions.

Staff

Andrea Ellis, Ph.D., NCC

Director

Andrea is responsible for the Professional Development Center (PDC) at Wake Forest University.  She spearheaded the creation of the PDC, which was launched in March of 2008.  As a dual report to both Human Resources and the Office of the Provost, Andrea has become an integral part of professional development for both faculty and staff specializing in ongoing leadership development and coaching to teams and individuals.

Andrea has been a presenter at domestic and international conferences regarding innovative practices in colleges and universities. Holding several certifications including, MBTI, The Big Five, Appreciative Inquiry, and DDI, Andrea has designed and facilitated numerous programs, including change management, team-building and conflict resolution.   In addition to leading the Professional and Leadership Development team, Andrea is responsible for the Organizational Development and Design facet of the PDC.

Andrea received a BA in Communication and Psychology from Eastern Michigan University; a Master’s in Counseling from Wake Forest University; and a PhD in Higher Education Administration with a focus on emotional intelligence and conflict management from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Melissa Clodfelter, PCC

Associate Director

Melissa joined the PDC team in January 2011.  Her responsibilities in this role include coaching faculty and staff, providing workshops, and facilitation.

Prior to her work with the PDC she was Director of Career Services and Vocational Coaching at the WFU School of Divinity and Coordinator of Coaching for The Center for Congregational Health, Inc. In both of these organizations, Melissa focused on the development of individuals and organizations. Her expertise includes coaching and coach training, leading retreats, facilitating dialogue, and providing workshops.

Melissa is a trained Corporate and Life Coach and carries the certification of PCC with the International Coach Federation.  She also holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees with a focus in education and is currently working on a PhD in Educational Leadership and Cultural Foundations at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

John Champlin, PHR

Manager

John joined the Professional Development Center (PDC) team in July of 2011.  As Manager of Professional and Leadership Development, his main focus is the implementation, execution and, assessment of the CORE initiative.

John previously served as a Regional Human Resources Manager for Noble Investment Group where his duties included training, organizational development, and recruiting.  John also spent time developing and implementing community service projects for team members at multiple locations within this organizations.

John received a BS in Business Administration from the Calloway School of Business at Wake Forest University.  In 2008, John attained his Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification.

Tomma Guastaferro

Operations and Marketing Specialist

Tomma has worked at Wake Forest University since 2004. As the Operations and Marketing Specialist, Tomma helps with marketing and managing the day-to-day operations.

Tomma is very active in the campus community and is passionate about the University’s commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive campus. In the fall of 2009, Tomma was instrumental in the implementation of the Gatekeepers program, which emphasizes the value of diversity and inclusion and the understanding of cultural similarities, differences, and perceptions.

Loretta Meyer

Administrative Coordinator

Loretta joined the Professional Development Center team in October 2010 to focus on budget and billing.

Loretta has a long history with Wake Forest, spending 22 years as assistant to the Director of Residence Life and Housing. Prior to joining Wake Forest, Loretta worked as a real estate agent and as an inventory statistician.

Loretta Meyer attended Radford University (formally known as Radford State Teacher’s College).

Advisory Board