Union College’s first African-American President shares his thoughts on leadership, equal access to education, work life balance, and his love for cycling.
David R. Harris, Ph.D., a sociologist with a distinguished record as an innovative teacher, scholar and administrator, became the 19th president of Union College on July 1, 2018.
Most recently, he was chief academic officer at Tufts University. During his tenure, he led the creation of a strategic plan, from which emerged a program to encourage students to perform a year of service before college, and Bridge Professorships, which span two or more schools to advance research and teaching on complex issues.
DeRay Mckesson talks education, equality, and mass incarceration.
Today’s high achiever is Deray McKesson. DeRay is a civil rights activist focused primarily on issues of innovation, equity and justice. Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, he graduated from Bowdoin College and holds an honorary doctorate from The New School.
DeRay has advocated for issues related to children, youth, and families since he was a teen. As a leading voice in the Black Lives Matter Movement and the co-founder of Campaign Zero and OurStates.org, DeRay has worked to connect individuals with knowledge and tools, and provide citizens and policy makers with commonsense policies to ensure equity. Spurred by the death of Mike Brown and the subsequent protests in Ferguson, Missouri, DeRay has become a key voice in the effort to confront the systems and structures that have led to the mass incarceration and police killings of black and other minority populations. DeRay was named as one of the World’s Greatest Leaders by Fortune Magazine in 2015 and as one of the 30 Most Important People On The Internet by Time Magazine in 2016.Read More »
In celebration of Black History month, Get on the Box is pleased to present “Black Excellence: Sharing the stories of High Achievers.” In this month long series, we will publish two episodes per week (Wednesday and Sunday) highlighting the accomplishments and contributions of nine African American High Achievers.
“I owe a lot of people.” – Dr. Anthony Jenkins
Welcome back storytellers! Today’s High Achiever, is Dr. Anthony Jenkins, (@JenkinsWVSU11)
Anthony L. Jenkins, Ph.D., West Virginia State University’s 11th President effective July 1, 2016, is an established higher education leader committed to advocating for students and creating opportunity to higher education for all students, especially culturally under-represented groups. Born in Washington D.C., and raised between our nation’s capital and North Carolina, Jenkins is a vocal proponent for education and public policy issues. He has fostered meaningful dialogue within the national higher education community. His research, speeches and publications focus on crisis management, enrollment and retention, diversity, African-American male initiatives, first-generation college student success, state funding for higher education, mentoring and high-risk college campus behavior such as alcohol consumption and sexual misconduct.
Throughout his career, he has enhanced the quality of the university experience for students, developed and successfully implemented comprehensive retention and enrollment plans leading to greater access, opportunity and higher graduation rates; thereby enabling more individuals to improve their quality of life by earning a college education.
Jenkins began his path to West Virginia State University as a United States Army veteran and first-generation college graduate. Jenkins earned a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Virginia Tech University, a Master of Science degree from North Carolina Central University, and a Bachelor’s of Applied Science degree from Fayetteville State University. Prior to leading the State family, Jenkins served as Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and, most recently, as the Senior Associate Vice President for the University of Central Florida – the nation’s second largest university. His career includes serving at Jackson State University, thereafter joining Virginia Tech’s Housing and Residence Life and later the Office of the Dean of Students. He remained at Virginia Tech until becoming the Assistant Dean of Students at Northeastern Illinois University. He later served as the Associate Dean of Students at the University of North Carolina Wilmington; and was recruited to serve as the Dean of Students at the University of Houston-Clear Lake.
A supporter of quality higher education, he has served as a site evaluator for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). He has been inducted into several of the most prestigious academic honor, business and leadership societies in the nation: Alpha Kappa Psi; Phi Kappa Phi; Sigma Alpha Pi; Alpha Sigma Lambda; Omicron Delta Kappa; Alpha Phi Sigma; and Order of Omega. Jenkins is married to Toinette Jenkins and they have two daughters.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL DISCOVER:
The benefits of letting your children taste failure
The importance of mentors
Why you should define your own definition of success
The difference between a leader and a manager and a
The five essential qualities of a good leader
The greatest compliment a parent can give a University
How first generation college graduates break generational cycles
Why families should give strong consideration to a state college
The expectation President Jenkins has of West Virginia State graduates
How the perception of two year college institutions have changed
Why West Virginia State implemented the Straight 2 State program
How running a university is like being the CEO of a company
The myth of high cost education
What factors students should consider when selecting a college
and so much more
THEY SAID IT BEST
“I realized that everything she was doing, she was not doing it for herself, she was doing it for us.
“An educated person will always find opportunity to succeed.
“A people hire A people, B people hire C people.
“Size nor location should dictate your level of success.
This episode is brought to you by HBCU WallstreetTheir mission is to be the solution for increasing financial literacy, economic opportunities and wealth in the Black community, starting with our nation’s HBCU community. They aim to create an ecosystem that will position our nation’s HBCUs to be the epicenters for Black economic empowerment in their host communities.
knowledge is profit
The Knowledge is Profit Summit is a 4 day virtual financial literacy event comprised of practical steps given by dynamic industry leaders and experts designed to equip attendees with tools to become more financial literate. This financial literacy summit will help you figure out how to:
1. Create and follow a realistic budget
2. Fix your credit report and raise your score
3. Start saving by thinking more in, less out
4. Purchase stocks in less than 30 days
5. Learn how to get life insurance and why
6. Learn how to start a profitable business to increase your monthly income
Thank you so much for checking out this episode of Get on the Box. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute and leave a quick rating and review of the show on Apple Podcast by clicking on the link below. It will help us to keep delivering inspiration through storytelling every week!
In celebration of Black History month, Get on the Box is pleased to present Black Excellence: Sharing the stories of High Achievers.” In this month long series, GOTB will publish two episodes per week (Wednesday and Sunday) highlighting the accomplishments and contributions of nine African American High Achievers.
“I get to mold minds and shape the futures of young people and influence generations to come. ” – Dr. L. Oliver Robinson
Welcome back storytellers! Today’s High Achiever, is Dr. L. Oliver Robinson, (@OliverRobinso13)
A staunch believer in equity and equal access to education for all children, Dr. L. Oliver Robinson serves as the Superintendent of Schools for the Shenendehowa Central School District since July of 2005. Prior to coming to Shen, he served as the Superintendent of the Mohonasen CSD. His recognition as the 2013 New York Superintendent of the Year speaks to his unwavering belief in the transcending and transforming power of a quality education.
Dr. Robinson is the author of a recently published book, Naked in the Public Eye – Leading and Learning in an Era of Accountability. The book provides a practical road map to success and illuminates the mental and emotional fortitude needed in leadership positions. The tone and format are framed to contextualize the complex challenges faced by educational leaders in an era of heightened focus on accountability.
Dr. Robinson received his Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Business Economics, and Organizational Behavior & Management from Brown University. He received a Master’s degree from the University at Albany, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree (Ph.D.), also from the University at Albany. He has been the Assistant Superintendent for Business (Mohonasen), School Business Official (Berne-Knox-Westerlo), and adjunct professor at the University at Albany, the College of St. Rose, and currently teaching a course in the doctoral program for the Sage Colleges.
Viewing himself as a leader for learning, Dr. Robinson is a steadfast advocate for children and educational achievement, he focuses his leadership on fostering a school system that brings out the genius in every child.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL DISCOVER:
Why education matters
How the pursuit of higher education is transcendent
How to transform challenges into opportunities
How playing teams sports helps achieve synergy at the workplace
The biggest misconceptions of running a school district
How time-blocking and scheduling can help maintain balance
The difference between Kronos and Kairos time
How to instill belief and confidence in students
The benefits of understanding the value of your time
The skills, qualities, and traits of an highly effective leader
How to respond to and overcome self doubt
What the number one lesson we all should teach our children
How working out allows Oliver to give more to others
Why you should carve out a courvoisier moment everyday
How to build an effective team
Why you should consider a career in education
What Oliver is looking for in an educator
and so much more
THEY SAID IT BEST
“Neither of my parents went beyond sixth grade of formal school.
“There were others who believed in me more than I believed in myself.
“Just because its hard doesn’t make it impossible.
“When we stop learning, that’s when we truly we stop living.
Thank you so much for checking out this episode of Get on the Box. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute and leave a quick rating and review of the show on Apple Podcast by clicking on the link below. It will help us to keep delivering inspiration through storytelling every week!
“Winning scholarships is mostly about being able to tell your story and hitting the submit button.” – Henry Keculah, Jr.
Welcome back Story Tellers! Today’s main character is Henry Keculah, Jr. (@henrykeculahjr)
Henry is the founder and CEO of 4.0 of Growth Productivity Accountability (4.0 GPA). Brought up in Houston, Texas, Henry was raised in a single-parent home by a mother who migrated to the U.S. from Liberia. He was a first-generation citizen, and attended school in Alief ISD. While in school, Henry had been completely unaware of the important role that class ranking and GPA played when it came to attending college. He also had never gone on a college tour prior to attending his university’s summer orientation.
Thankfully, Henry was able to turn things around. In his junior year of high school, Henry learned that his GPA could determine not only what colleges he could have access to, but also which scholarships he could apply for, as well. He ended graduating from high school with a 2.5 GPA and gaining admission to The University of Texas at Austin despite not being in the “Top 10%” of his graduating class. In college, he applied himself further still – he finished his freshman year at The University of Texas with a 4.0 GPA, and would garner several scholarships over the course of his academic career there.
Upon graduating from The University of Texas, Henry was accepted into the Teach for America corps, with whom he served as a high school teacher in Houston. As an educator, Henry committed himself to giving his students the opportunities he had not had, so they would be better prepared for college. For example, he often took students on college tours to institutions throughout the United States. Even when he ended his tenure with Teach for America, he continued to take Houston-area students to college tours (like The University of Texas’s annual “Explore UT” event) on a yearly basis.
