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President’s Leadership Retreat focuses on continued excellence

By Marketing and Communications Staff

Southwest President Dr. Tracy D. Hall engages with faculty and staff at the 2022 President’s Leadership Retreat.
Southwest President Dr. Tracy D. Hall engages with
faculty and staff at the 2022 President’s Leadership
Retreat.

The 2022 President’s Leadership Retreat held July 13 at the Whitehaven Center focused on the pursuit of excellence and relevance within Southwest and the greater Memphis community. President Hall invited Greater Whitehaven Economic Redevelopment Corporation Executive Director Michael Harris to update the room full of Southwest department and division leaders and senior staff on the major initiatives underway in one of Memphis’s most revered neighborhoods. 

“Through our collaboration with Southwest, I believe we can create mentorships, internships and pathway opportunities to higher education for elementary, middle and high school students in the greater Whitehaven community,” Harris said. “We are losing the battle to save our students. We can fight this battle and be successful when we come together.” 

Harris was followed by none other than dynamic national speaker and leadership guru Derek Young, who managed to provide insight into shifting the change management mindset in a post-pandemic society. “Stop saying change and start saying relevant,” Young said. “Your opportunity today is to leave here with a new mindset and methodologies to be more innovative.”

Greater Whitehaven Economic Development Corporation Michael Harris provided Southwest leaders details on the impact of such new businesses as Muggins and Starbucks to the Whitehaven Community.
Greater Whitehaven Economic Development Corporation
Executive Director Michael Harris provided Southwest 
leaders details on the impact of such new businesses as 
Muggins and Starbucks to the Whitehaven Community.

President Dr. Tracy D. Hall emphasized how Southwest’s journey to excellence and pursuit of relevance continues.  “In 2016 when we joined Achieving the Dream, we had an urgent situation. We knew we had to make changes to the college,” Hall said. “We are a critical need for this community and must continue to redesign, reinvent and reset to remain relevant at Southwest.”