School of Labor and Employment Relations Announces Spring 2026 Capstone Project Award Winner
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Mindy Williams, a command sergeant major with the U.S. Army and a recent graduate of Penn State’s Master of Human Resources and Employment Relations program, has received the Spring 2026 Outstanding Capstone Award from the Penn State School of Labor and Employment Relations.
Williams has led large and diverse teams, developed training and leadership programs, advised executive leaders on organizational performance, and driven initiatives to strengthen culture and workforce readiness during her more than 20 years with the U.S. Army. In her current role, she supports decisions impacting more than 600 personnel while leading efforts focused on leader development and organizational effectiveness.
Her capstone project, “Improving Leader Presence in the 10th Division Sustainment Troops Battalion,” examined how operational demands can limit opportunities for mentorship, developmental engagement, and meaningful leader-soldier interaction. Using organizational data, focus groups, document review, and leadership research, Williams developed an evidence-based plan to strengthen leader presence and rebuild a culture of development within her battalion. Her recommendations centered on creating protected time for counseling, coaching, and leadership engagement to improve trust, communication, and overall unit climate.
Williams selected this topic based on her career observations and current experiences as command sergeant major. Upon arriving at her organization, she identified recurring soldier challenges that ultimately traced back to gaps in leader availability, mentorship, and developmental support. The capstone provided an opportunity to transform those observations into a practical solution.
“The capstone allowed me to translate real organizational challenges into a structured, research-driven solution,” Williams said. “It reinforced the importance of evidence-based leadership practices and validated that meaningful change is possible when leader development is treated as a strategic priority.”
Her work has already begun influencing practice within her organization. After discussing her findings with her battalion commander and first sergeants, elements of the project are being implemented through monthly “Payday Activities,” which will include dedicated time for counseling, leader development, inspections, and increased engagement between leaders and soldiers.
Please join us in congratulating Mindy on this well-earned recognition and outstanding achievement.