An Overview of the UT Institute for Public Service
Designing High-Impact Training Programs: Mission Alignment and Organizational Improvement—A Public Service Perspective
Dr. Macel Ely; CPM, CPTD
Executive Director of the UT Naifeh Center
for Effective Leadership and Director of Organizational
Improvement for the UT Institute for Public Service
This session provides a practical overview of how the University of Tennessee
Institute for Public Service designs and delivers high-impact training and
technical assistance to more than 47,000 local and state government officials and employees each year. Participants will gain insight into how mission alignment, stakeholder needs, and organizational priorities guide the selection and development of programs, as well as the key factors that drive their success. The session emphasizes actionable strategies training professionals can use to strengthen program relevance, improve outcomes, and scale impact within their own organizations.
https://www.ips.tennessee.edu/
Learning Objectives:
- Examine how the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service delivers training and technical assistance to more than 30,000 local and state government officials and employees annually—and how its mission and service portfolio inform program design.
- Evaluate and apply proven methods for selecting, developing, and continuously improving training programs—grounded in mission alignment, stakeholder needs, and measurable outcomes—to strengthen impact and scalability in your own organization.
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Macel Ely serves as executive director of the UT Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership (NCEL) and as director of organizational improvement at the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service. He holds bachelor’s degrees in political science from Lee University and Kentucky Wesleyan College, a master’s degree in public administration and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Dr. Ely is a Certified Professional in Learning and Performance through the Association for Talent Development and has earned the Public Leadership Executive Certificate from the Harvard Kennedy School. He also holds professional credentials in executive coaching, leadership program development and training management.
He has received multiple awards recognizing his research and contributions to public service. His published works include the book Ain’t No Grave, which was featured by media outlets such as CNN, NPR and the BBC. The book was also nominated for Best Historical Research by the Association of Recorded Sound Collections.
Dr. Ely and his wife, Jamie, live in Walland, Tennessee, with their two children. Among his personal passions is the establishment of the Ely Public Service Experience Endowment at the University of Tennessee. This endowment provides college students on the autism spectrum with opportunities to engage in public service, helping them gain a deeper understanding of the public sector and how they can contribute meaningfully to it. Watch the endowment video to learn more.
Model Domain:
Build Personal Capability - Communication, Collaboration and Leadership, Project Management, Lifelong Learn
Develop Professional Capability - Training and Development, Career and Leadership Development, Coaching
Impact Organizational Capability - Talent Strategy and Management, Organization Development and Culture, Future Readiness
Event Details:
Program Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm Eastern Time
Program Cost: Current Chapter Members Free | Guests $10.00 | Students $5.00
*Registration will close at 5:00pm ET on Thursday 7-16-2026
*Registrants will receive an e-mail containing the link and login instructions prior to the event.
Smoky Mountain Chapter has been pre-approved by the ATD Certification Institute to offer educational programs that can be used towards initial eligibility and recertification of the Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) credentials. This program qualifies for a maximum of 1 point.
