GWSC recently held its first event on The University of Alabama campus, marking an important milestone for the center’s student engagement efforts at its home institution.  

‘Food for Thought’: How Leadership and Service Create Change Around the World, featured GWSC Director Mike Gremillion, who delivered a candid and engaging talk in which he walked through his leadership development journey, from early responsibility in the military to building the experience that led him to what he described as his “dream job” at GWSC. He emphasized that leadership is earned through service, accountability, and a willingness to make hard decisions 

Throughout the presentation, Gremillion challenged students to rethink traditional leadership models. Drawing on lessons from military service and respected leaders across fields, he stressed the importance of integrity, clear communication, and surrounding yourself with people who bring strong judgment and perspective.  

Gremillion was direct about the realities of leadership: Failure is inevitable, growth comes from experience, and respect is built through consistent action rather than titles. 

The event concluded with a strong call to action, encouraging students to take initiative, accept risk, and focus on results. Gremillion reinforced that leadership starts where you are, regardless of position, and that real impact comes from doing the work and building others up along the way.  

This ‘Food for Thought’ event set the tone for future GWSC campus programming by connecting global service to practical leadership takeaways students can use right away, with the added bonus of a free lunch.