Michelle Nunn Speaks to Students at Wesleyan

Michelle Nunn encouraged students to pursue lives of leadership and service Thursday night at Wesleyan College. 

Left to right, Michelle Nunn, CEO of CARE, and Meaghan Blight, 26th president of Wesleyan College.

Nunn, the president and CEO of CARE and 2014 candidate for Senate, said equality for women requires women to take positions of power if women are to achieve empowerment and equality. 

“Find the place where your great gift meets the world's great need,” Nunn said to her audience of trustees, professors, students, faculty, and community members alike. 

Meaghan Blight, 26th President of the college, joined Nunn on stage to uncover Nunn’s journey from girlhood to becoming CEO of CARE. 

“I knew I wanted to make a difference. I didn’t know exactly what that was.” Nunn said of her non-linear path into the world of business. “Finding [my voice] in terms of [my] own sense of leadership was a journey for me.” 

Nunn explained that many take their education for granted without realizing how individuals must go without it. 

“I used to cry before any kind of public speaking,” Nunn said, alluding to her past (and present) doubts about her ability as a leader. 

She contrasted this memory to an experience in Afghanistan when speaking to an audience of adolescents who potentially could not further their education. “One of my (...) colleagues asked ‘Who’s the smartest in the room?’” one young girl walked right up and said, “I am.” 

Nunn stated that the women she interacts with daily keep her driven in her career. She acknowledged the mentors as well as mentees she has in her field and personal life who support her to continue paving the road for women in all walks of life. 

Along with her passion for education and care for others, Nunn encouraged her audience to try out politics. “Just do it,” she said. “Think about your capacity to make a difference.” 

Alexis Gregg, Executive Director of Wesleyan’s Creating Equal Opportunity (CEO) Leadership Institute, supported Nunn and was honored to host her on campus. “I knew she would be a really impactful speaker because of the impact [her] organization has,” said Gregg. 

She also hosted CEO students for a pre-reception Question and Answer conversation with Nunn.

“We spoke with her for a long time, and it was truly great.” First-year student Rohini Saha said of the pre-reception and formal conversation with Nunn. Saha shared her gratitude for Nunn’s speech, stating it was inspiring and something she knew the students in her class needed to experience. 

Saha laughed when asked about her idea of joining the political world. “To be honest, I’m not very interested in politics,” she stated, “but after today, I was like ‘yeah, this makes sense.’” 

Nunn’s words of encouragement did not just reach aspiring politicians, as others left the lecture feeling a renewed sense of passion. 

“This lecture reminded me of why I wanted to go to school and how sometimes we take things for granted,” said Jennifer Callaway, Sophomore at Wesleyan College. “It reminded me of how much privilege I have to be here at Wesleyan,” Callaway said, speaking about how she was affected by Nunn’s remarks on her own experience of taking her education for granted. 

The lecture was part of the Gail Thompson Webster Patterson Endowed Lecture Series, which invites notable speakers in the world of business, accounting, economics, and beyond to enhance education at Wesleyan College.

This article was written by Tate Miller and was originally published by the Macon Melody. For more information, contact ellington.wesleyancollege@gmail.com.