These past few months have given us time to reflect and figure out how we can all virtually stay connected. Many of our alumni have shared their experiences and challenges on The Network, an online community just for Leadership Foundation alumni.
Our Networker of the Quarter Will Simpkins, Leadership Exchange 2019 and Leadership Denver 2020 alum, is one of those alums. Simpkins, vice president for student affairs for Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver), has used The Network to share job resources and his thoughts on how he believes his role is different in the community today.
Get to know Simpkins and connect with him and more alums on The Network. Log in to The Network to get started!
Elizabeth Prutch: What have you gained from being active on The Network?
Simpkins: The most valuable aspect of The Network is the deep pool of talent and the communities connected to Network members. When MSU Denver was looking to hire a director of industry partnerships, I posted it to The Network and another alumnus connected me with someone in his personal network. The individual we hired has been a stellar addition to our organization, bringing a level of innovation and creativity we barely dreamed of!
Prutch: What is your leadership animal and why?
Simpkins: The roadrunner, because I work at MSU Denver! Roadrunners are fast, vocal, curious and team up to defend their territories. I’ve long believed that leadership is about collaboration, asking the right questions and being unafraid to speak up when something doesn’t seem right.
Prutch: What are your passions and interests in the community?
Simpkins: My first, and most significant, leadership experience was being elected president of my college’s LGBTQ student organization – creating space for a community to come together, to challenge institutional norms and to advocate for the needs of folks within our campus community. I’ve carried that spirit with me throughout my career and personal life, and have gotten involved in local community governance, programs serving homeless youth and LGBTQ teens, and education.
Prutch: What Colorado’s Civic DNA™ attribute would you like to see in the community more and how?
Simpkins: I think we have room to grow regarding inclusivity. While the definition in Colorado’s Civic DNA is a great starting point, I hope that our communities are also taking stock of not just inviting others “in” but how we grow and change given the experiences and perspectives that others may bring to the table. The current definition seems, to me, to be rather passive … like we’re waiting for “the other” to want to come to our party. We have work to do in reaching out, ensuring that our organizations and efforts are built on a common, or even divergent, understanding of issues.
Prutch: What has been the most interesting discussion you’ve had on The Network and why?
Simpkins: I responded to Dan Lewis’ Question of Month on how community engagement has shifted during COVID-19. In trying to figure out what to say, I had to grapple with where I might have fallen short in the last few months. I grew up in a mountain area where everything was a community event from rebuilding a fireplace, to ensuring families had the resources they needed to thrive, to getting hay in the summer. So, I hold myself to a high bar of engagement. It took me a minute to gauge whether I really am living up to my own expectations. I’m eager to see the responses that others post and hopefully to get new ideas of where I can support this work!
