ALAP inspires leaders at work and beyond

Max Williams, director of research administration in the College of Journalism and Communications, has built a career at UF on a foundation of service, curiosity and continuous professional growth. He credits the Advanced Leadership for Academics and Professionals (ALAP) program with demystifying the leadership process and strengthening his ability to guide and influence others across the college.

Read on to learn how Williams’ participation in ALAP has shaped his approach to leadership at work and inspired him to be a better parent, partner and friend at home.

Tell us about your professional journey and how you came to be in your current position at the University of Florida. 

I began my UF career in 2003 in the Division of Housing and Residence Education as an office assistant. In 2005, I transitioned to the Department of Astronomy in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, where I gained my initial experience managing an academic business unit. 

In 2008, I moved to the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), becoming the lead administrator for the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE). My time in ABE was foundational: I strengthened my administrative and financial expertise by managing a high volume of transactions across diverse funding sources and supervising a team of eight staff members. I also became deeply engaged in research administration, overseeing the full lifecycle of sponsored projects — from proposal development through award management and project closeout. 

During my time in ABE, I took advantage of the Employee Education Program (EEP) and earned my Master’s in Agribusiness from the Food and Resource Economics Department. This was a transformative experience for me because it strengthened my professional skillset, improved my time management abilities and gave me the opportunity to experience the university as a student. 

I participated in the UF Academy in 2020–21, and that experience sparked my interest in leading at the college level. When the opportunity arose to join the College of Journalism and Communications in 2021, I jumped at it. 

I wouldn’t be in this position if not for the supervisors who have inspired, encouraged and believed in me throughout my UF career: Stan Dermott, Ph.D., Ds.C.; Dorota Haman, Ph.D.; Wendy Graham, Ph.D.; Kati Migliaccio, Ph.D., and Marcia DiStaso, Ph.D. Their support of my own professional development has been invaluable. 

What motivated you to participate in the ALAP program? 

UF has an amazing training and organizational development program, and I have taken advantage of every leadership development program offered, from the Supervisory Challenge to LEAD IFAS to the UF Academy to ALAP. Once I started in the CJC, I realized that my duties were no longer limited to managing staff members. Instead, I needed to motivate and encourage faculty, staff and students who were not under my supervision, including people above me in the org chart. After reviewing the curriculum and discussing with past participants, I knew ALAP was the right choice. 

What impact has the ALAP program had on you professionally and, if applicable, personally? 

ALAP has had three significant impacts on me professionally. First, it gave me connections by providing me with access to a network of UF leaders, who were both presenters during the program as well as my colleagues in the cohort. Secondly, it gave me competencies from the Leadership Competency Quadrant model that we developed and discussed throughout the program. Finally, it gave me the confidence to pursue leadership opportunities that I previously thought were out of reach for me. 

Personally, I had an epiphany during one of the small-group discussions we had during ALAP. We were discussing one of the readings and a colleague commented on how it could be applied to the role of a parent just as well as an academic professional. I had been compartmentalizing my leadership development trainings up to this point, focusing on the value they brought to my job. Realizing that all these resources could be used at home and in my personal life was a real light-bulb moment for me. I like to think my family has noticed a change in me since I have finished as well. 

Are there specific resources or connections you made during the program that you found most valuable and why? 

The instruction provided by UF Training and Organizational Development was outstanding. Getting a chance to listen to colleagues share their own challenges and triumphs was inspiring and the facilitation and insight provided by Bob Parks, Ph.D., was a master course in leadership by itself. Bob did an excellent job of fostering a supportive environment, and always stressed that “lessons leave, but stories stay.” I also found the use of an accountability partner a big help during the program and still reach out to them today. 

How have you applied what you learned in this program in your role as a leader? 

ALAP’s elevator speech project helped me refine and polish my role as director of research administration and provided quantifiable results. Additionally, applying this exercise to other areas helped me see where I could add value and, even more importantly, demonstrate this value to college leadership. As a result, I have also assumed administrative and financial oversight of the CJC Division of Graduate Studies. 

What would you tell a colleague who is considering applying to this program? 

Specifically, ALAP is a chance to focus on the act of leadership itself. Often times, I thought that leaders implicitly knew how to lead, but this program demystifies the process by giving you an organized approach. If you are in a leadership role at UF, this is the program for you.  

More generally, this program adds value to your life in myriad ways. It has helped me be a better employee, partner, parent and friend. Don’t take it because it is a box to check off or something to add to your resume. Take it because you will be able to reference this for the rest of your career and life. Output is a function of input — the more you put into ALAP, the more you will get out of it.

Applications for the 2026–27 ALAP cohort are open now through Friday, May 1. Apply on the UFHR website.