Alcorn student honored with Emerging Leadership Award
Alcorn student honored with Emerging Leadership Award
At the Mississippi Religious Leadership Conference (MRLC) annual banquet held February 7, Ismail Yusuf, a junior sociology and mass communication major from Seattle, Washington, received the Emerging Leadership Award for his dedication to religious understanding and social justice.
This year’s event marked the first time that MRLC recognized a student for such an honor. Dr. Derek Greenfield, director of Educational Equity and Inclusion, nominated Yusuf for the award and introduced him to the crowd assembled at Galloway Methodist Church in Jackson, Mississippi.
In his remarks, Yusuf shared his personal life journey, including powerful testimonies about being a first-generation college student and having a responsibility to set an example for his younger siblings and others in his community. Yusuf’s inspiring words about his commitment to the work of diversity and inclusion, as evidenced by his role as an intern with the Office of Educational Equity and Inclusion, earned him a standing ovation. Other honorees included Constance Slaughter-Harvey, Macy B. Hart, Bishop Joseph Latino, and Tougaloo College.
“It was a great experience,” shared an emotional Yusuf. “I was so humbled to be recognized alongside of those giants of social justice in Mississippi. My goal is to continue to champion the cause of diversity and inclusion, joining forces with other young leaders to change the world for the better.”
