Graduate students participated in an inspirational lecture Saturday when President Wright offered his insight from a college president perspective as part of The Effectuating Change Speaker Series.
Wright said, “Because these students are in an educational leadership class, I’d like to share with them my philosophy of leadership. I’d like them to know that first they are on the right track, and that a position such as college president is very attainable.”
While in attendance, Wright offered students insight into the years he spent studying at Duke University, and his years as a professor at University of Texas at Austin.
He shared his philosophical view of leadership, saying that a true leader must do whatever is necessary in order to succeed.
Students were inspired as Wright told his personal story of the hardships he endured as a teen.
He used the term, “sub-dumb” frequently as a reminder to students of how not to view themselves.
He also left students with personal advice for leadership positions saying that a true leader – in his own words – “lives up to the letter and the spirit of the law.”
Lisa Thompson, a professor in the college of education, said, “I think it speaks to the type of leader that President Wright is to take time out on Pantherland Day to honor his commitment to be a speaker for the course.
He is a teacher first and foremost, and for him to have the opportunity to interact with these aspiring leaders is inspirational.”
The series, which began on Jan. 29, when Michael A. McKenzie, principal at Houston Independent School District’s Ryan Middle School, spoke on effectuating change at a grade-school principal level.
McKenzie’s lecture was ensued by lectures from Tyrone D. Bland, a managing partner at Porter Tellus LLC Strategic Consultants who spoke on effectuating change at the U. S. Congressional level from his viewpoint as a lobbyist on Feb. 12.
Prairie View alumnus Todd Stephens, superintendent of Magnolia Independent School District, spoke on effectuating change at the school superintendent level.
Stephens is a member of the first doctoral cohort within the Whitlowe R. Green College of Education’s doctoral program in educational leadership.
According to Thompson, the concept behind the lecture series derived from her desire to give her students the opportunity to interact and dialogue with leaders from various organizations and industries, to discuss actual ways they impact or effectuate change within their respective organizations.
The series will continue on March 12 when Kimberly M. McLeod, president of the Houston Alliance of Black School Educators, and Elaine Bailey, president of the Texas Alliance of Black School Educators speak on effectuating change within nonprofit organizations.