National Council on Black American Affairs Selects CSM's Lesley Quattlebaum for Next Leadership Institute Cohort

College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Velocity Center Executive Director Lesley Quattlebaum has been selected as a member of the 2024 Dr. Carolyn Grubbs Williams Leadership Team. She will join her cohort in Connecticut in October for the 20th Annual Leadership Development Institute for African American Mid-Level Administrators, presented by the National Council on Black American Affairs.  

“I am thrilled for this leadership development opportunity,” Quattlebaum said. “Both personally and professionally, I feel I always have more to learn. I find that learning amongst peers in a cohort is valuable to learn from the experiences of others and build a personal and professional network that extends well beyond the time spent in the learning environment.”  

“I am humbled to have been considered by my leadership at CSM to participate,” she continued. “I am passionate about our mission to support our students along their personal paths to success. I use what I learn to become a better leader to serve our community.”  

During the October session of the leadership development institute, Quattlebaum will be immersed in a weeklong experience of interactive and facilitated dialogue focused on leadership with a cohort of 25 to 30 community college mid-level administrators and leaders from around the country. Distinguished community college leaders will facilitate all of the sessions.  

“We are very proud to have Lesley participating in the leadership cohort,” said CSM Continuing Education and Workforce Development Vice President Ellen Flowers-Fields. “With her commitment to our students and to a lifetime of learning, she will make for a most welcome addition to the leadership cohort.”  

Quattlebaum was named executive director of the Velocity Center in Indian Head in May 2022. She first joined CSM in 2016 as project manager in business development and grants specialist coordinator.  

The Velocity Center is located just outside of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD) in Charles County. The Navy uses the Velocity Center for conference and meeting space, as well as hosting professional development activities and events. It is also home to The Makerspace --  a 1,984 square foot collaborative community work space for making, learning, exploring, and sharing. It is equipped with a variety of maker equipment including 3D printers/scanners, laser cutters, soldering irons and other additive and subtractive machines for manufacturing. It includes hardware and software for cyber/gaming, CAD modeling, simulation, app development, robotics, and prototyping. To learn more, visit https://www.csmd.edu/about/locations/velocity-center/index.html.