Dr. Will T. Lewis Sr. – a nationally recognized leadership speaker, author and facilitator who helps leaders and organizations build resilience before, during and after the storm – will be the featured speaker during this semester’s Skyhawk Leadership Academy.
The Skyhawk Leadership Academy is a professional development speaker series designed to equip current and aspiring leaders with practical strategies, fresh perspectives and tools they can put into practice right away. The academy will be held in two sessions during the fall 2026 semester.
With a career spanning higher education, health care, entrepreneurship and nonprofit leadership, Lewis brings a rare blend of lived experience, research-informed insight and practical application to every stage, room and conversation he enters.
Lewis’ work centers on the belief that leaders are at their best when hope, belonging and resilience are intentionally cultivated.
Lewis is the founder of WillHouse Global, co-founder of The Intersection, and is chair of the board of United Way of Forsyth County, North Carolina. He is a U.S. Reserves veteran and is the author of “Perched in the Storm” and “Sweet Potato or Pumpkin Pie.”
The Skyhawk Leadership Academy will be held virtually in two sessions:
• Tuesday, Sept. 29, 10-11 a.m., “From Reaction to Response: Leading When the Pressure Is On.”
Stress, urgency, assumptions and uncertainty can all influence how people respond. In this interactive session, participants will explore the Pause-Assess-Respond approach and apply it to real-world leadership situations. Participants will gain strategies for slowing down, thinking intentionally and responding effectively when circumstances are moving quickly. Participants should register through the K@TE website.
• Tuesday, Nov. 3, 10-11 a.m., “The Leadership Reset: Turning Resilience into a Practice.”
Resilience isn’t just something leaders have; it’s something we can strengthen through practice.
This session moves beyond simply understanding resilience and focuses on the habits and behaviors that help leaders remain effective during prolonged periods of change. Participants will reflect on their leadership growth, explore current challenges and create a personal reset practice to help navigate future disruption with greater intention and confidence. Participants should register through the K@TE website.
The Skyhawk Leadership Academy is a new initiative of the Division of Access and Engagement at UT Martin and provides faculty and staff with opportunities to strengthen their leadership skills, expand their capacity and prepare for current or future leadership roles. The academy aligns with UT Martin’s strategic plan and is open to all faculty and staff.
Whether participants are currently serving as a leader, aspiring to advance into a leadership role or just want to be more effective in their current role, the Skyhawk Leadership Academy can be beneficial.
Through a combination of virtual and in-person sessions, participants will explore practical leadership topics including leading through uncertainty, AI and digital integration, burnout and well-being, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution and tough conversations, coaching and mentoring, strategic thinking and decision-making, effective delegation, and culture and meaning-making.
Most sessions will be about one hour, with future plans for half- and full-day workshops focused on advanced leadership development and specialized topics.
“When I assumed my first organizational leadership role almost 27 years ago, I struggled because I continued to try to do everything myself,” said Dr. Mark McCloud, vice chancellor for access and engagement. “Effective leaders learn that development is more important than just doing. They develop a mindset, communication skills, trust in their team, processes, people, programs, policies and passion that help them lead effectively.”
For more information about the Skyhawk Leadership Academy, contact Tonya Evans at the Division of Access and Engagement at 731-881-7767 or access@utm.edu.
PHOTO: Dr. Will T. Lewis Sr., a nationally recognized leadership speaker, author and facilitator, will be the featured speaker at the Skyhawk Leadership Academy, scheduled for Sept. 29 and Nov. 3.
