By Kenneth Mullinax
If you are interested in motivational speakers that help uplift your life and make your hearts soar, then you must attend ASU’s new public seminar series, “The Leadership, Educational, and Development (L.E.A.D.). Speaker’s Series.” The seminars will feature eight different speakers with forums beginning on Aug. 24, 2023 and continuing through 2024. The series is the brainchild of the Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Division (Student Affairs) and the Student Government Association’s (SGA) Executive Committee — L.E.A.D. is the revival of the University’s former Lyceum Committee.
L.E.A.D.’s first event will be held on Aug. 24 at 11 a.m. and features Kerry Stevenson, a renowned public speaker and educator whose personal career highlights range from having been a standout football coach for the University of Alabama, to a poet, life coach and a motivational speaker. The event will be held in the auditorium of the Ralph D. Abernathy College of Education, and it is free and open to the campus community and the general public.
“We are so excited to be presenting a vibrant and interesting speaker’s series that is oriented toward our students, yet offers such an impressive array of well-known national personalities that we hope that it is also of interest to ASU employees, alumni and the general public,” Swoope said. “We wanted to make sure that we had solid student input and advice on each and every speaker, so I invited the SGA Executive Committee, under the leadership of SGA President Landon Hale, to be members of our committee and offer vocal and direct advice on just which candidates our students would best respond to hearing. I am very pleased with their willingness to participate and the solid advice they rendered to us.”
The speakers, in order of appearance, include Kerry Stevenson (motivational speaker); ASU President Quinton T. Ross, Jr. (leader and public figure); Terrence J (actor/entertainer); Angela Yee (radio personality); Jeff Johnson (social justice leader); Adam Harris (speaker/author); Denise Thomas (speaker); and DJ Envy (record producer/radio personality).
ABOUT THE AUGUST 24TH SPEAKER
The first speaker of the L.E.A.D. series is Stevenson, who fashions himself as a “champion educator and life coach.” He is a renowned motivational speaker who has had a diverse career that has included serving as a football coach, athletic director, educator, and author. He is currently employed as the “Life Coach” for the Alabaster City School System.
Stevenson has had a distinguished career in education, from high schools to universities, that includes preparing student-athletes, both on the field and in the classroom, while also helping team members adhere to a myriad of policies and procedures. He has worked for two powerhouse Southeastern Conference schools — the University of Tennessee and the University of Alabama (2013-19), under legendary head football coach Nick Saban, during the period that the team won four SEC Championships and two National Championships.
“I am confident that Mr. Stevenson will inspire and energize students to excel within their education and their careers in life, with his vibrant and important life’s lessons that he has amassed in his over 40 years in education alone,” Swoope stated.
ASU STUDENTS HELP SELECT SPEAKERS
Swoope shared that it was important to her to have active ASU student participation in the selection of all eight speaking slots since the prime audience for each speaker is ASU’s student body. Miss Alabama State University Kayla Edwards, and her Royal Court, also joined SGA President Hale and his cabinet in the planning.
“Edwards, a Brooklyn, New York native, and her royals added much talent on the L.E.A.D. committee, helping us choose the right speakers,” Swoope observed. “It is important to have these speakers on campus because of the motivation they can bring to the student body as noteworthy people whom the students look up to as role models. I am especially looking forward to hearing our first speaker, Mr. Stevenson, because as a former coach to Alabama’s Nick Saban, he has a background on perfection and winning; however, I am sure each successive speaker will also offer new advice and motivation that it is important to observe,” Swoope added.
GOALS OF THE SPEAKER’S COMMITTEE
Swoope said that among the many goals that committee members have for all eight speakers, the most important is the sharing of intellectual thought.
“We hope that students and the general public will come away from all eight talks with inspiration that will help them more directly address academic success and then motivate each to pursue and achieve their career goals and aspirations,” said Swoope. “We must thank President Ross for providing us with the opportunity to bring these speakers to our campus, so that our students will be exposed to people who have succeeded in life and in turn, have a great and positive impact on society.”