Fellow Friday - Marcus Bennett, Northwestern Michigan College

What do you do at the college and why is leadership important in your role?

I serve as Special Assistant to the President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion/Associate Dean of Campus Life at Northwestern Michigan College located in Traverse City. My role as Special Assistant is integral to the implementation and execution of Strategy 3 (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) objectives for NMC Strategic 2022-25 Plan. In addition to executing those objectives I also develop, coordinate and implement various activities and programs as it relates to creating a culture of belongingness for NMC stakeholders which ranges from students to employees and community members of Grand Traverse county.

In my role of Associate Dean of Campus Life, I get the opportunity to manage NMC campus housing operations, fitness center and intramural activities. The management of these opportunities allows me to interact with the various personalities and cultures represented at the college.

Leadership is important in the various roles I serve at NMC, because you have to be able to compartmentalize when you have to balance many competing priorities. An effective leader knows when to delegate and when to lead by example.

What does it mean to be an inclusive leader???

Being an inclusive leader means that one is in tune with their own biases and prejudices, and aware of how those biases and prejudices can impact others in relation to their decision-making. Inclusive leaders are so cognizant of their behaviors that they are able to allow themselves to see situations from another's perspective which is essential when it comes to making the best decisions for the group or the organization being served. An effective inclusive leader builds trust among the group and practices empathy on a personal and professional level.

Tell us about a leader that you admire.

My mother is a leader I admire, she was a single parent raising two children on her own and instilled in me what is possible when it seems the odds are not in your favor. She taught my brother and I the importance of being a leader and the importance of wanting better for ourselves and establishing a foundation for the generation to follow.