When Lexi McMahon, coordinator of recruitment and outreach for the Tisch Student Services and Engagement Team, first accepted her spot in the Leadership Tuscaloosa (LT) program, she saw it as a way to network and sharpen her professional skills. She didn’t expect it to become something that would change how she sees the world just outside the halls of Reese Phifer.
LT is a nine-month fellowship designed for professionals committed to ensuring the city’s progress. It serves as a facilitator for civic-minded people, empowering them to enhance the local quality of life through informed and responsible leadership development. Participants take monthly classes from September to April and then graduate in May.
Now a graduate of the program, McMahon looks back on the experience with a more service-oriented view of administration and community impact.
“Leadership Tuscaloosa was an experience that truly changed me in ways I never expected,” noted McMahon. “I saw it as an opportunity to learn more about the community and grow professionally, but I had no idea just how impactful it would become in my life.”
Throughout LT, McMahon and her classmates explored many of the issues, organizations and systems that shape Tuscaloosa. From education to public service, each session offered participants an inside look at the people and institutions working to move the city forward.
For McMahon, one of the most meaningful parts of the classes was gaining a deeper understanding of the hardships facing a community, and the best ways to tackle them as a unit.
“I gained a deeper understanding of both the challenges and the opportunities our city faces, and that knowledge gave me a stronger appreciation for the work being done behind the scenes every day to move our community forward,” said McMahon.
As the coordinator of recruitment and outreach, she is used to working closely with students and their families, often looking for new and better ways to connect with those who come through C&IS. Through Leadership Tuscaloosa, she has gained a deeper understanding of the community she serves and expanded her network of local leaders and organizations.
“Most importantly, this experience helped me better understand my own leadership and the power I have to make an impact on others,” said McMahon. “Leadership is not always about having the loudest voice in the room; it is about showing up, building relationships, serving others and using your gifts to create meaningful change.”
McMahon leaves Leadership Tuscaloosa feeling inspired and energized, ready to apply her gifts in new ways. She stands as a testament to the program’s mission, that true leadership isn’t about the title you hold, but the positive change you leave behind.
