What Makes a Leader?
by: Chris Turpin ‘12H-SC professors share opinions on leadership
Hampden-Sydney’s new president, Dr. Christopher Howard, seems to be settling into his new job quite well. It is doubtful that he knew exactly what he was getting himself into when he became president, but with the start of classes, a student body address, and a regional tour already under his belt, it seems that he already has his finger on the pulse of the Hampden-Sydney community. As he continues to push traditional Hampden-Sydney values alongside new programs, he finds that most faculty members approve of his actions.
Professor Frank Archer ‘73, Associate Professor of Fine Arts, thinks that what Hampden-Sydney needs most is to turn to her traditions and focus on “the best of what we are.” Professor Archer believes that as long as our new president can keep Hampden-Sydney focused on the idea that “we are our brother’s keeper, especially in a community such as ours,” he is headed in the right direction. He also says that President Howard seems dedicated to minimizing the impact of the current economic instability. Archer considers this especially important to preserving the Hampden-Sydney way of life. “He’s got tons of energy, he’s willing to listen a lot,” says Professor Archer, “and that’s a good thing.”
The second faculty member interviewed was Professor Dirk Johnson, associate professor of modern languages, who agrees with Professor Archer in that President Howard should work on preserving only the “good” traditions of the colleges, such as the honor code. Professor Johnson believes that what Hampden-Sydney needs is not a “new identity,” but an identity that has been “reexamined to reflect modern times.” This includes reaching out to new groups of students for diversity, and increasing the school’s international awareness, which he feels President Howard is doing a great job of already.
Professor Johnson also thinks that Hampden-Sydney would benefit from expanding beyond its role as a small regional school; in his view, Hampden-Sydney can attract students from all over the country. In addition, he feels that if Hampden-Sydney really believes in staying all-male, rather than trying to defend its single-sex status, the school should work harder to “market the all-male aspect more heavily.”
The third and final faculty member interviewed was Professor Claire Deal. Professor Deal, chair of the Rhetoric department, has been a member of the faculty since the fall of 1999. Professor Deal agrees with both of her colleagues, saying that Dr. Howard needs to “continue to define the Hampden-Sydney man.” She, like Professor Johnson, thinks that this means reaching out to students who are not only from different ethnic and socio-economic groups, but also those who have differing views of masculinity than the more traditional Hampden-Sydney man.
She believes that Hampden-Sydney should be “a space for all men.” Professor Deal also thinks that Hampden-Sydney should do more to promote gender studies, and perhaps even offer a Masculinities Studies minor. She also thinks that the college curriculum should provide more opportunities for students to engage in service-learning.
In all of these interviews with faculty members, it became apparent that each believes that balancing the school budget by increasing class size would be a huge mistake. In particular, Professor Deal believes that small class size is a huge strength of the college and that it’s great that professors can get involved in students’ lives. Professor Archer also thinks that President Howard should not be concerned with making Hampden-Sydney “bigger, but better.”
President Howard stands with Hampden-Sydney’s 234 year history behind him and the college’s bright future ahead of him. He is in the interesting position of having to make decisions in light of both of these facts in order to continue Hampden-Sydney’s legacy of academic excellence. He is also forced to do it in a time of great economic uncertainty. The general consensus is that President Howard needs to continue to define what exactly it means to be a good man and a good citizen. If he can do this, it seems that everything else will fall into place.
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