To begin the school year, SGA’s office of External Affairs will launch the first installment of its Leadership Speaker Series. It will begin with Dr. Stuart Bell, the new president of the University, directly addressing the student body and faculty for the first time. The event will take place on September 2nd. It will be hosted in Russell Hall 159 at 5:30 p.m. and it will be open to all University of Alabama faculty and students.
SGA has partnered up with several other on-campus organizations such as Honors College Assembly, Tide Talks, UA College Republicans and UA College Democrats.
External Affairs created the series, lead by SGA vice president for external affairs Jonathan Hess. Hess thought the best way for this to be reached was to bring in an assortment of speakers to campus, individuals who boldly exhibit the important quality of leadership. Within the series, the group will bring in both political and non-political leaders and leaders who hold positions on the community, state and national levels.
“The idea in its infancy focused on political speakers, and to bring mayors, senators, and so on to campus, and then we wanted to broaden the series to make it an overall leadership series,” Hess said. “Leadership was more important than just individuals involved in politics per say, or statesmanship.”
Bell will be beginning his tenure as President of The University of Alabama this semester. He previously served as provost at Louisiana State University.
“Throughout his entire experiences within higher education as a whole, he will possess so much influential leadership that he will be able to represent in the first of the leadership series,” said Catherine Faust, Director of Media Relations for the Student Government Association.
Bell will briefly speak on the importance of leadership. After his address to the students and faculty, he will open for questions and answers. Following the event, students will be able to voice their opinions via-Twitter with specific hash-tags which will be presented at the and on the social media app.
“Both Dr. Bell and Dr. Grady are both very open to working with us, they have already come to several of our events in the first few weeks of school, and are both very receptive that we bring ideas to the table,” Hess said. “Whenever an individual in the SGA sees something they want to accomplish, they are always very accommodating.”
Mayor of Tuscaloosa Walter Maddox is also scheduled to speak at the Leadership Speaker Series. The SGA has four more scheduled for this semester, and looks to bring in several more before the term’s end.
