Muskegon native Leon Howard III served four years in the U.S. Navy after high school, but while stationed near a college campus, he often pictured himself as a student and questioned why he was not encouraged to and hadn't pursued higher education.

Upon leaving the Navy, Howard embarked on a journey of personal growth through learning and service. Today, as the program manager for the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs, Howard is helping other students realize their full potential, as he did his.

"It's not the degree that determines what you're going to do in life, but it's what you learn, what your passions are," Howard says. "It's how you use your skills and talents to make a difference."

The transition from military to civilian life was eased with the opportunity to work as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer. During this time he was able to organize several of his own community projects in addition to his assignment, such as an African-American expo to fight disparities in the community. That opportunity led to a community service scholarship to Olivet College, where he majored in business administration, concentrating in marketing.

While working at a community correctional facility after graduation and working as a guest teacher in Muskegon Public Schools, Howard witnessed firsthand how difficult it is for people to achieve their dreams without access to resources, and he began to reflect on his own experiences.

With community service and engagement at the heart of his passions, Howard got his master's degree in student affairs and higher education administration from Michigan State University.

Today, his work with MESA focuses on advising, mentorship, student leadership development, community engagement and social justice education. He's involved with programming for many of MESA's initiatives and committees. They including Growing Allies - which helps students, staff and faculty develop the capacity to be allies; have empathy; understand identity, power and privilege; and create a more inclusive environment on campus - and SIBS (Supporting Incoming Black Students), a student-run peer mentoring program.

Howard also is president of the Association of Black Professional Faculty Administrators and Staff, working to retain and recruit black faculty, staff and administrators, create a sense of community for them, and create opportunities for them to develop professionally.

In an effort to give back to his own community, Howard started the Muskegon Multicultural Beach Festival, a non-profit organization with a mission to help promote healthier lifestyles, sustainability, lifelong learning, economic development and diversity. The three-day festival included many events such as a back-to-school fashion show to get kids involved in promoting education, a college resource fair and a water-safety tent.

"I'm just trying to build a sense of pride in my community, and the reason why I started it was because a lot of youth don't see the beauty in my hometown, and there's a sense of hopelessness," Howard explains. "I was trying to highlight the beauty of Muskegon."

Though the festival is on hiatus, Howard organizes other community events throughout the year, such as free movie screenings and community dialogues. This summer, he hopes to bring a play that addresses many relevant social justice issues, including sexual assault, homelessness and diversity in the classroom.

"I am always trying to do some type of event to give back and to help broaden the perspectives of people in my hometown, to provide them with opportunities."

Howard credits service and learning as his greatest teachers. His experience with MESA gives him the ability to create similar opportunities for U-M students.

At the core of his approach to personal growth and helping others achieve that growth are integrated learning, experimental learning, service and community engagement through a social justice lens.

Through these, he says, transformation is possible.

By Jordan Swope. Reprinted with permission of The University Record.