Memorable Moments of 2022: #3 An Interim Man of Morehouse
When I decided to leave Dillard, I did not have a confirmed job. I moved into what my colleague Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette explained to me was a mosaic career- several different tasks at a time. Speaking and consulting were natural fits. I am able to write for publications. And I signed up with the Registry, an organization that places seasoned higher education professionals in interim roles.
As soon as I signed up, I was presented with several opportunities. The one that really spoke to me as an opportunity at Morehouse College in Atlanta, my hometown. In 2021, the College received a grant to begin a Black Men’s Research Institute. This institute is an opportunity to explore ideas of masculinity and manhood, as well as better position Morehouse as the default authority on the broad range of issues impacting Black men.
So in August I began as the interim executive director. My task this year is to get the center going, which includes conducting faculty curriculum workshops, public lectures and a symposium. A lot of it is getting the name of the center out as well to start building awareness on campus.
We had a good fall semester. The signature event was the public lecture featuring Roland Martin one month before the high-profile Georgia midterms (which then became an even bigger run-off election).
And for me it has been a great time of reflection and learning a new institutional culture. So, participating in the opening convocation,
speaking to freshmen during an orientation session, sitting in on a moot court team practice,
speaking for student groups and just being present on the campus have been a great learning experience.
Looking forward to this spring.
Walter
