What motivated you to enroll in the Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Leadership?
I was motivated by my 18-year-old daughter’s comment and a need to lead by example.
I had wanted to earn a master's degree to become more effective in my engagements. As life would have it, I put things off. One morning, I had a heartfelt discussion with my daughter about school. Her childish response was, “If school is so great, why don’t you go?” On that same day, the Dean of my department offered me a seat in the CCLA program. I was then motivated to lead by example.
What’s one lesson or insight from the program that’s stayed with you?
The lesson I learned is that the halls of higher education are incubators for social change and the cultivators of economic growth and personal development. I also learned that the system of higher education cannot be everything to everybody, but it has done so much for so many.
Who was your biggest supporter during the program (personally or professionally), and how did they support you?
My biggest supporters are my family, the administration of my institution, and my coworkers. My big brother aided me with tips and techniques for resource gathering, used in earning his MBA. My wife and children provided moments of quiet while I studied. The administration granted me interviews with people in leadership positions. Most of all, my co-worker would teasingly cheer me on through random questions, comments, and pats on the back.
What accomplishment or moment were you most proud of during or since completing the program?
I am proud to say that I am currently a graduate student at the University of South Carolina, earning a master’s degree in Higher Education Leadership. After completing the CCLA program, the acceptance and transfer into their graduate program was virtually seamless.
What’s your go-to source of inspiration – a book, quote, mentor, or song that keeps you motivated?
I have two sources of inspiration:
First, “Attitude over aptitude makes a world of difference. If your attitude is in the right place, you can gain the aptitude.”
My second go-to is "You can't be successful at anything you give up on."
