Scholar Scoop
This is where conversations inspire possibilities. Every episode, we speak with people who have changed my life to help you navigate yours. From college, career, to life. Glad you’re here
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In this episode of Scholar Scoop, Steve Loflin sits down with Vernon Wall, a higher-education professional, leadership educator, and longtime student development leader whose work has helped college students and administrators think more deeply about values, purpose, and leadership.
Vernon works with LeaderShape, supporting leadership development programs on college campuses, and has spent his career helping students understand that leadership is about relationships, values, action, and the way we show up for others.
Steve and Vernon talk about how college can become a testing ground for your values. It is one thing to say you believe in respect, dignity, inclusion, or service. It is another thing to ask what those values actually look like in your residence hall, your classroom, your student organization, your job, or your daily decisions.
Vernon also reflects on his experiences with Semester at Sea, first as a student in 1998 and later as Dean of Students for the 2024 voyage. He shares why immersive experiences, whether abroad or within a new community, can help students grow, expand their perspective, and better understand the world around them.
In this conversation, you’ll hear:
- Why values matter in college and how they are tested
- How reflection and journaling can help students make meaning from their experiences
- Why study abroad and immersive learning can be transformative
- How leadership is both positional and relational
- Why students do not need a title to develop leadership skills
- How campus jobs, recreation centers, student activities, and informal roles can build real-world skills
- Why students should look for leadership opportunities that connect with their values and future goals
- How LeaderShape helps students imagine a bigger vision for the future
Whether you’re a college student trying to find your place, a high school student thinking ahead, a parent supporting a student, or an educator helping young people grow, this conversation is a reminder that college is not just about what you learn. It is about who you become.
Learn more about Vernon: https://www.vernonwall.org/
Learn more about LeaderShape: https://www.leadershape.org/
