Ten faculty and staff members of Meridian Community College kicked off the new academic term as students themselves, taking part in the Class of 2025 Eagles Leadership Convocation where they will learn how to be strong and effective leaders on campus.

As the fall academic term begins, Meridian Community College’s Eagles Leadership Convocation is back with a new class of faculty and staff members learning how to make an impact on the college and community. 

This in-house professional development and leadership program, sponsored by the MCC Foundation, focuses on building strong leaders throughout the college by concentrating on communication, leadership and team-building skills to improve MCC and create opportunities for personal growth and success. 

The Class of 2025 cohort includes Darren Bane, director of workforce development; Jaterra Hurst, women’s basketball assistant coach; William Davidson, associate dean for institutional research; Casey Holladay, director of social media; Phyllis Holladay, Eagles Scholars Program coordinator and mathematics instructor; Matthew Milner, lead media specialist/videographer; Jim Price, director of facilities management; Flora Sumrall, Business Office Management Technology Program and Accounting Technology Program coordinator and instructor; Crystal Webster, director of student accounts; and Marion Whiting, director of housing and student activities.

MCC President Dr. Tom Huebner and Dr. Leia Hill, vice president for institutional advancement and executive director of the MCC Foundation, are facilitators for the leadership convocation. Jaycee Butler, executive assistant to the vice president for institutional advancement and MCC Foundation office coordinator, is the program’s assistant. 

The group, which will meet monthly on campus through May 2025, will cover topics including diversity and inclusion, legal issues and human resources, crisis and meeting management, and building relationships and teams. At the end of the year, convocation members will present a group project that spotlights a college need and a solution for that need. 

After completing the nine-month program, participants will receive a $500 stipend. 

With its first day session, which included orientation, the group is ready to start and invest in the program’s purpose.

“I wanted to participate because of all the opportunities,” said Hurst, who had worked at other higher educational institutions before coming to MCC in summer 2023. “I’m very interested in why we do the things we do at MCC. There could be a better way, more efficient way of doing certain things. I think it’s a good setting to ask those questions and maybe have them answered,” she added.

Whiting, who minored in servant leadership as an undergraduate, said she is eager to develop that skill as a professional.

“I’m intrigued and interested to see how that has grown, or how strengths have shifted or maybe discover new weaknesses,” she said.

Hill noted she’s looking forward to working with this year’s Eagles Leadership Convocation class.

“I’m excited about what I can learn from you,” she said. “I’m going to rely on this group because it is such a diverse mix of people from across campus.” 

She added, “We will all learn and grow together.”