Howard University is undisputedly home to the best and brightest students in the global community. Students who apply, are accepted and attend the Mecca come here as leaders in their own right; but it is through its motto of Truth and Service that the Howard University student is trained in transformative leadership.
Within the Department of Strategic, Legal and Management Communications in the Cathy Hughes School of Communications, Howard University students receive leadership theory and development as apart of their academic experience. In the Introduction to Leadership Management course, students have the opportunity to learn from the most competitive industry experts through a guest lecture series. This semester the course featured lecturers from the Women of the Washington Redskins, The NFL Players Association and our very own Howard University. Focusing on the importance of ethics, diversity, public service and leader development, the guest lecture series provided students with best practices on public service and servant leadership from professionals in some of the most competitive leadership roles
“When leading a team, it is important to commit yourself to improving and developing your skills.” Glen Vinson, Howard University alumnus and Associate Dean of Religious and Civic Engagement shared with students in the introduction of his lecture. In his respective role, Mr. Vinson is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Rankin Memorial Chapel and the annual Alternative Spring Break (ASB) program initiative. Since it’s inception, ASB has cultivated thousands of student leaders and have had a profound impact on supporting and transforming some of the most disenfranchised and underrepresented communities spanning across the US and abroad. The stewardship of the ASB program and commitment to the academic, social and spiritual growth of participating students, are just a few ways that Mr. Vinson and the team of the Office of the Dean of the Chapel actively build a community of students who not only speak the motto of Truth and Service but exemplify it through their work on and off campus. This is all apart of the systematic approach to helping the Howard University student understand and embrace the power of influence they possess. It is through this work that Mr. Vinson is representative of what is required in order to be a true servant leader.
“As a fourth year student at Howard University I have always admired the work of the individuals in the Chapel. They coordinate weekly services on Sundays with great speakers and annually send hundreds of students to various cities across the nation for Alternative Spring Break (ASB). Everything was put into perspective when I found out that Mr. Vinson was the man behind those acts of service.” “In a guest lecture in my Leadership class, he outlined five levels of leadership. For his presentation, he connected his experiences to each one of the levels to help us understand leadership growth and how to progress in our abilities and the importance of expanding our platform of influence. ’’
-Darnelle Casimer, Howard University Senior
Mr. Vinson shared that ‘people development is a critical component in leadership’…“as a leader you become great not because of your power but because of your ability to empower others.” It is through this level of leadership that students who participate in ASB truly begin to transform the people in the communities that they support but experience self-transformation as well. “You must use your positions, relationships, and productivity to invest in your team and improve everyone's performance.” stated Vinson. “I learned so much about myself and my approach to leadership from listening to Mr. Vinson’s talk. In order for me to develop as a leader I must continue to invest in myself and my peers to achieve overall greatness” said Casimer.
Programs like ASB serve as a training ground for effective leadership and afford students the opportunity to learn about themselves while investing in others. Throughout the lecture series, students learned that through building relationships, credibility and production, the natural born leader becomes a change agent. Leaders like Mr. Vinson are those change agents that have helped navigate thousands of students in transforming the campus and global community alike.
To learn more about the Alternative Spring Break program and ways that you can contribute, while developing your servant leadership, contact the Office of the Dean of the Chapel at 202-806-7909.