Leadership & Character | Manakin Sabot, VA

A group of Wake Foresters gathered over dinner in Manakin Sabot, VA on May 3, 2019 to discuss Leadership & Character.

Overview and Highlights of our Call to Conversation:

• We had a lively conversation regarding demonstrations of character we each have witnessed and also discussed whether character is learned or innate.
• We agreed that character in action is often associated with the individual being able to take perspective, be compassionate, and demonstrate integrity and dependability in making values based choices consistently over time. These characteristics may be facilitated by accountability to a higher power, and they may be modeled by significant people such as parents, professors, and coaches.
• We explored how character can be contagious and can be cultivated. A wonderful quote from the night emphasized that “You can tell what people value because they measure it!”
• Wake Forest may be able to intentionally increase the focus on growing character by valuing it, rewarding it, and increasingly building character development into the curriculum and fabric of the University and culture. This may include increasing awareness of existing organizations and structures such as the student run Honor and Ethics Council and Board of Investigators and Advisors, as well as thoughtful development of additional opportunities for students to gain real-world knowledge of and skills in leadership and character development. We understand that such a program is being developed by Assistant Professor Michael Lamb and are supportive of this intentional effort to grow this area of education to build character in Wake’s students!