One of the nation’s most dynamic and youngest college presidents will visit the WSU Pullman campus October 24 to discuss the ways in which students, faculty, and staff can cultivate their leadership skills.
Christopher Howard, the president of Robert Morris University, will deliver the inaugural address in the Excellence in Leadership Lecture Series sponsored by the WSU Black Faculty and Staff Association and the Office of the President.
Dr. Howard will deliver his remarks, “Eight Ways to Accelerate Your Leadership Odyssey,” at 4 p.m. October 24 in the CUB Senior Ballroom. He will share his playbook for developing character-based leadership skills—skills applicable to anyone, in any field, at any time.
Rhodes Scholar and standout student-athlete
While attending the United States Air Force Academy as an undergraduate, Dr. Howard won the Campbell Trophy, the nation’s highest academic award presented to a senior college football player. He later earned a doctorate in politics as a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
After earning his doctorate, Dr. Howard began his military service as a helicopter pilot. He later became an intelligence officer for the elite Joint Special Operations Command. After 9/11, he served in Afghanistan in the Air Force Reserve and was awarded the Bronze Star. He also served as the Reserve Air Attaché to Liberia.
Prior to being named president of Robert Morris, Dr. Howard served six years as president of Hampton-Sydney College, a private, liberal arts college near Richmond, Va.
Series part of effort to strengthen culture of diversity and leadership
The lecture series is part of WSU President Kirk Schulz’s commitment to strengthening the culture of diversity and leadership at the university’s campuses system-wide. “We want to create not only a more diverse university, but a university that creates more leadership and career opportunities for men and women of color,” he said. “One way to do that is by bringing outstanding leaders such as President Howard to campus to talk about their life and career journeys.”