FIYou: Garth Headley ’07

Name: Garth Headley ’07

Hometown: Miami, Fla.

Job Title/Department: Director of Programs, Center for Leadership (CFL)

Campus: Modesto A. Maidique Campus

In a nutshell: I have operational and logistical responsibilities for the center’s executive leadership training programs and research. I’m responsible for the day-to-day operations of the center, including budget, HR and marketing.

Number of years at FIU: 3 ½ years.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I am an industrial/organizational psychologist by training and when an I/O psychologist shares his/her expertise it’s usually backed by strong research. The center’s programs are the same – what we teach or offer corporate executives who attend our programs is backed by the experience of our faculty and by empirical data. I enjoying having the opportunity to share that expertise through our programs, providing practical real-world applications for executives based on multidisciplinary faculty research.

What do you think faculty/staff and students should know about your department?

CFL aims to continuously provide opportunities for faculty and graduate students to engage in leadership research – few other constructs are as relevant today for success and the demand for strong leadership in organizations, particularly in challenging times, means that there is and will continue to be a need for expertise in this area. Our Leadership Competency Builder has received significant attention and we recently published the fourth edition of our Top Woman-Led Businesses Study for the state of Florida. Although we are still relatively new, we have already offered two flagship executive leadership programs: our Leading Decisions program will be offered for the second time next spring and our Women on the Move program will see its fifth installment this November.

Where is your favorite spot on campus? Why?

The College of Business Complex. It’s ultra-modern, sleek and professional.

If there is one thing you wish everyone knew about FIU, what would it be?

I don’t think people begin to understand the impact FIU has had on South Florida and the state as a whole. We are a top-notch research facility. We develop and train some of the most intelligent and inquisitive individuals I have ever met – the kind of individuals that add meaningful value to organizations – and FIU has been doing it for years.

Family snapshot:

Single and loving Miami!

Word that best describes you: I hear “diplomatic” a lot.

First paying job: Special Services agent with Air Jamaica, Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Favorite TV show: “The Big Bang Theory.”

Your proudest accomplishment:

Completing my undergraduate degree. I had a fantastic but challenging job while attending classes at night.

What do you do when you are not working at FIU?

I travel as often as time allows. I love Europe, but I also love the beaches and anything to do with the ocean – snorkeling and especially sailing. I am a certified diver but have somehow developed a huge fear of sharks, so I’ve recently started photography as an alternative and am very excited about some of the series I’ve been doing.