Driven. Ambitious. Change Makers.
These are just some of the words used to describe the student scholars of the Emerging Leaders Program at the UofM which celebrated more than 40 years of cultivating student leaders at the University of Memphis campus.
The scholarship program is among the highest institutional scholarships awarded to students just under the Cecil C. Humphreys Presidential Scholarship. The scholarship currently offers $5,500 annually, yet for the many students who participate in the program know it’s true worth more than surpasses this monetary amount.
Through a cohort-style program, students receive leadership training and development throughout their four years in college.
Connections are made early in their college experience through a residence hall community created specifically for freshman and community service projects throughout their Emerging Leaders journey.
The program began as a vision by Donald Carson, who served as Vice President for Student Affairs for twenty-eight years, retiring in 2003, as an initiative to bring students to campus so they could get involved and contribute to a vibrant student life.
Since then, Emerging Leaders has developed more than 1,000 student leaders through its leadership competencies curriculum. We spoke to two leaders of the program, one a student and one an alumnus. Read more about them below.
Among the program’s emerging leaders is Macon, Miss. native Reagan Williams. She is a senior majoring in biomedical engineering with a minor in community action and social change. Williams interned at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and has been involved in the UofM Frosh Camp Program for several years, most recently serving as its executive director where she managed and organized two, four day and three-night camps for incoming freshman. In addition, through her leadership as director she was able to train 42 counselor team members in connecting with future Tigers. Williams was also voted by her peers and crowned as Ms. UofM during Homecoming Fall 2024.
Q&A
Emerging Leader Student Spotlight
Reagan Williams
Q: How did you become involved with the Emerging Leaders Program?
A: I became involved with the Emerging Leaders scholarship program upon entering the University of Memphis in the Fall of 2021. I participated in the scholarship application process which included an online application and an interview. Once receiving the scholarship offer, I got acquainted with the requirements and leadership development benchmarks required to stay up to par with the program. I have been thoroughly involved for seven semesters.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about the program?
A: My favorite thing about the program is the two classes that are required. The classes educate thoroughly about the depths of leadership and provide valuable connections within the community.
Q: How has Emerging Leaders benefited you personally and professionally?
A: I have grown in my self-reflection efforts and my ability to lead in different organizations and in the classroom which all stem from my increased understanding of leadership provided by this program. Also, completing competency reflections also allow us to further understand the meaning and key takeaways that lie in our many experiences that we have on campus.
Q: What is your favorite memory from the program?
A: My favorite memory of the program is the Emerging Leader Friendsgiving that was held in the LEAD center. It allowed us to fellowship and be able to interact with all cohorts.
Native Memphian and City of Memphis leader, Cortney Richardson (’11), serves as the CEO of the Peer Power Foundation. Peer Power is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide youth with high-quality, life-enhancing tutoring and mentoring services that ensure personal, partner and provider success. Richardson joined the organization in 2005 serving in many roles including tutor, program director and chief marketing officer. Since 2004 Peer Power has provided more than 1,900,000 hours of tutoring and mentoring and has employed 2,130 college students. The organization is a recent recipient of the Ascending to Excellence Award from the University of Memphis.
Q&A
Emerging Leader Alumni Spotlight
Cortney Richardson
Q: How did you first become involved with the UofM Emerging Leaders Program? What years were you involved?
A: Dr. Shawn Boyd was the recruiter for my high school in 2007. My teacher, Dr. Sharron Hightower, heard about the Emerging Leader (EL) Scholarship through April Jones, who was an EL scholarship recipient and alum of my high school, East High School. Drs. Boyd and Hightower worked together to get me to apply to UofM. Mrs. Hightower ensured that I applied for EL on time. I submitted the application to the post office at Airways and Shelby Drive after 11:50 p.m. (maybe later) on the deadline date. My grandmother made sure I did what Mrs. Hightower said back in 2007. I was accepted and participated from 2007-2011.
Q: What was your favorite thing about being involved with the program?
A: I enjoyed the dialogue with my classmates and the instructors at the time. We would complete activities, readings and involvement hours and then talk about how those things shaped our personal leadership philosophy. Hearing the perspectives of classmates from different backgrounds than me helped shape my leadership worldview. The perspectives also helped shape our presentations at local youth conferences for high school students, which were always fun.
Q: How did being involved with Emerging Leaders benefit you personally and professionally?
A: Personally, EL expanded my mind beyond my experiences by exposing me to different kinds of people and content that helped me move beyond my own limiting beliefs.
Professionally, I am committed to helping shape the next generation of leaders, no matter what my role is in the community or at work. EL solidified for me that leaders are not born but can be made. Consequently, I am always of the mind that leaders create leaders, and I pride myself on creating a leadership pipeline. I believe the true sign of success is your successor.
Q: You are now the CEO of Peer Power; how did being involved with Emerging Leaders prepare you for what you do now?
A: WOW! Meeting high expectations and learning goals that culminated in a personal leadership philosophy showed me the importance of being structured in planning and always being clear on the purpose and direction of activities with which I am involved and with which I have others involved. I try to never lead or do anything without clear direction. I also still bump into “Lunch N’ Learn” speakers who imparted their knowledge into my life while in the program. Cary Vaughn and Nancy Coffee are still a part of my life and network today.
Q: Are you still involved with Emerging Leaders in any way?
A: I still promote the program and help students prepare for the interview. I also love hiring EL’s to work at Peer Power. They/we are the cream of the crop!
To learn more about the Emerging Leaders Program visit: memphis.edu/studentinvolvement/leadershipandservice/el-overview.php
