Overview
During a visit to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University on a football game day, I stood near the Greensboro Four monument reflecting on the legacy of Ezell Blair, Jr. (Jibreel Khazan), Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, and David Richmond. On February 1, 1960, these four A&T freshmen walked downtown to the segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter and staged a “sit-in” that would spark a nationwide movement. As I watched, the entire football team arrived, touched the monument, received words of encouragement, and then headed back to the bus before their game. Some might view this as routine tradition, but what I witnessed was a team honoring four students who chose to be notable rather than simply famous. Their sacrifice—enduring ridicule, embarrassment, and harassment—was made in pursuit of equitable treatment and access.
This program will highlight actions on campuses that shaped our nation’s history and explore the lasting impact of choosing to be notable for a lifetime versus famous only in the moment. It will also provide leaders with a blueprint for ensuring their contributions create notable impact rather than fleeting recognition.
Learning Outcomes
- Cultivating a values-driven vision that prioritizes lasting equity and access over short-term visibility.
- Committing to courageous action, even in the face of resistance, knowing that discomfort often precedes progress.
- Creating structures of legacy, such as mentorship, programs, or policies that grow beyond one leader’s tenure and carry forward their impact.
Speaker
Jarrod D. Benjamin, PH.D.
If you have heard Dr. Jarrod D. Benjamin, you have heard F.I.R.E.—Funny, Informative, Relatable, and Engaging. He is the CEO and Principal Strategist of the L.E.A.D. Firm, consulting for over 200 colleges and universities nationwide in leadership training, faculty development, pedagogy assessment for competency attainment, and student success strategies. A military veteran and recipient of the United States President’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr. Benjamin holds a PhD focused on student engagement and first-year success. His work centers on creating equitable, impactful programming for student leaders, campus-based professionals, and faculty.
He has also expanded his work as a leadership and community strategist and trainer for the NBA Franchise, Portland Trail Blazers, collaborating with their professional staff to deliver impactful leadership development.