As nomination season begins again, the Blackburn Institute is accepting nominations from deans, directors, faculty members and student affairs staff members of the University.
The new director of the Blackburn Institute, Mac Griswold, said the program is interested in a diverse group of students and not necessarily fully developed leaders.
“We like to ask, ‘Who can benefit from this program?,’” Griswold said.
The Blackburn Institute seeks students who have room to grow as leaders. Griswold put emphasis on the need for diversity of opinion and desire for change. He said Blackburn seeks students who are passionate about changing the state of Alabama for the better.
Prospective Blackburn members are not required to be from the state of Alabama, nor are they required to have plans to stay in Alabama for any period of time following graduation. Students interested in being members must have at least one year remaining at the University, whether as an undergraduate or graduate student, and show a desire to impact the state of Alabama while at the University.
“Blackburn has taught me to value the opinions of those around me,” said James Kemp, a senior majoring in finance and a first-year Blackburn Institute member. “The next person’s opinion is just as valuable as mine.”
Kemp said his time with the Blackburn Institute has taught him the importance of a variety of opinions in regard to solving problems.
“Blackburn has shown me that no matter how diverse a group may be, there is still common ground to be found to foster dialogue and collaboration,” he said.
Landon Nichols, a first-year graduate student majoring in public administration and a student chair and graduate assistant of the Blackburn Institute, said students hear about leadership often throughout their lives, but at Blackburn, every day is spent learning and living leadership.
“In a sea of 30,000 students, Blackburn made me realize I had a voice and an opinion that truly mattered,” he said. “Equipped with principles of ethical leadership and utilizing a committed intergenerational network, anyone has the capacity to be an effective change agent in their community.”
Nominations for the Blackburn Institute are due Friday and can be submitted to the Blackburn website at blackburninstitute.ua.edu.
