Character of Leaders Initiative Celebrates People and Virtues

The Center for Practical Ethics partnered with the Trent Lott Leadership Institute to create the Character of Leaders Initiative with funding from Wake Forest University's Educating Character Initiative. The initiative is in its second year, led by Deborah Mower, director of the ethics center, and Melissa Jones, associate director of the Lott Institute.

The cohort of 31 Ole Miss faculty and staff began its virtue studies this fall. The interdisciplinary group represents areas of campus ranging from sciences and engineering to communication, education and nutrition.

"Leaders of character are not born, they are shaped through education, mentorship and community engagement," Jones said.

The initiative works to mold leaders and focuses on developing the virtues within the UM Creed because those qualities are essential, she said.

"The initiative addresses this need by integrating moral, civic and intellectual virtues into the culture at the University of Mississippi," Mower said. "It builds on the UM Creed and decades of character education to create a unified, interdisciplinary approach to developing ethical and effective leaders across all areas of the university."

The professional tutelage includes participating in a yearlong schedule involving workshops, book studies, presentations and speakers by which participants learn and think about how to apply learned elements into their courses and research.

"What's unique is that we have a cohort that will design classes and think how to create an integrated, consistent set of experiences for students focused on character," Mower said.

The cohort members will ultimately incorporate what they learn to their own area of instruction and research by building or refining a course focusing on character.

Because faculty, staff and students are so intertwined, students – and therefore, the university – will benefit from this initiative and become stronger leaders with character because of this professional development.

"We all impact each other, each of us contributing to the culture and reputation of our university," Mower said.

As part of the initiative, 15 Ole Miss faculty, staff and students were recognized this semester for personifying the Creed through the program's campuswide accolades.

Many university individuals are well-known for their significant work, and the initiative recognizes individuals who may not be as well-known but whose work is still important, Jones said.

"This series of awards is an effort to help identify the individuals who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make others' lives better," she said.

The Exemplar Award recognized faculty, staff and students for demonstrating the core virtues of fairness, respect, integrity, civility and intellectual humility of the UM Creed.

The Exemplar Award recipients are:

• Faculty: Kirsten Dellinger, College of Liberal Arts associate dean for access and strategic initiatives and professor of sociology; and Rebekah Smith, professor of psychology
• Students: Abolfazl Afshin, a graduate student in engineering science from Zahedan, Iran; and Noah Watts, a graduate student studying higher education/student personnel from New Albany
• Staff: Kim Chrestman, higher education operations coordinator; and Tressie Johnson, custodial services.

"The Creed represents values I strive to embody every day, and receiving this recognition reminds me that those efforts truly matter," Johnson said. "It isn't about perfection, but about consistently choosing to do what's right even when it isn't easy.

"This honor encourages me to continue serving my community, uplifting others and leading with authenticity."

The Community Award recognized individuals who represent the same core virtues in how they establish connections, friendships and networks in creating community.

Recipients of the Community Awards are:

• Faculty: David Henry Holben, professor of nutrition and hospitality management; Molly Pasco-Pranger, professor of classics; and Brianna Richmond, graduate instructor
• Students: Emily Davis, a senior exercise science major from Benton, Louisiana; Alejandro Garcia, a graduate student in psychology from Los Angeles; and junior Emma Wilbourne, of Lewisburg, studying psychology
• Staff: Annabelle Harris, College of Liberal Arts admissions counselor; Zoe Moore, teacher education administrative assistant; and Matt Ward, psychology operations manager.

"It felt really nice to feel seen." Harris said.

Harris works with the college's ambassador program that welcomes and fields questions from prospective students to ensure they receive the experience they want.

"That's what this university is all about – reaching out and bringing people up," she said. "Because if you want to do it, you can; the ambassador program helps do that."

She also wants to make sure that ambassadors benefit from the experience. Harris builds community by offering her ambassadors resume workshops, pizza nights, grad school application workshops and, most recently, a mentor program with the college's alumni board.

"Some really great connections were made with members of our alumni board, and now our ambassadors have that network for guidance and it's such an awesome thing," she said.

As part of the selection process, nominators were asked to give examples of how the person demonstrates the virtues of fairness, respect, integrity, civility and intellectual humility.

Trying to embody the virtues of the Creed to build community did not begin automatically for Garcia.

"It was something I had to approach very intentionally," he said. "Over time, those intentional choices became habits, and those habits became part of who I am.

"I still fall short sometimes, as anyone does, but every day offers another opportunity to try again, to show up with dignity, fairness, compassion and integrity."

It is important to take advantage of those opportunities with virtue, Mower said.

"Each of us has the power to make the lives of those around us better, and we are working to ensure that all members of the UM community have the knowledge and character to do that with excellence," she said.

Top: Students, staff and faculty have been honored by the Character of Leaders Initiative for their demonstrated virtues of the UM Creed with Exemplar Awards. Melissa Jones (left), associate director of the Lott Leadership Institute; Deborah Mower (right), director for The Center for Practical Ethics; and Chancellor Glenn Boyce (fourth from right), congratulate Exemplar Award recipients (from left, beginning with second from left) Kim Chrestman, Abolfazl Afshin, Rebekah Smith, Noah Watts, Chancellor Glenn Boyce, Kirsten Dellinger and Tressie Johnson. Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services