Encouraging the Next Generation of Leaders: A Reflection from Reginald Nichols ’79

Reginald T. W. Nichols ’79 majored in biblical studies at Gordon and went on to cultivate an impressive career in the field of leadership and development. From being a pastor at several churches to working in schools across the country and serving on boards for organizations like the Mississippi World Trade Center, Nichols’ impact won him the Jack Good Community Service Award from Gordon in 2015. We asked him to reflect on his many years spent leading others in Christ. 

A Different Way of Ministerial Leadership 

What I enjoyed about Gordon was that it expanded my understanding of ministry. The path to ministry is broader than just pastoral ministry. Especially after college and seminary, when I was pursuing my doctorate, I was a principal at a school in San Francisco. That role helped me realize that what I loved most about ministry, counseling, etc. was leadership. I felt that the way to impact lives for the kingdom of God was to do education and leadership together. 

Since then, leadership development has been the thread that has guided me and my career. I seek to be a leader who helps those who are in need, either by preaching or teaching. My leadership lens has always been specifically in education, viewing that field as my ministry and letting God use me in the leadership, development and excellence of others. 

True Leaders Help Others Grow and Develop 

My joy during my career has been working with those I’ve had the opportunity to oversee as direct reports. When I was working in Mississippi at The Piney Woods School, my executive secretary was a great person. I asked her one day what her educational dreams were. She said she wanted to continue in her current job, but I pressed her. She finally said, “I want to pursue my doctorate.” She already had a master's degree. And I asked, “How can I support you?” 

We were able to flex her work hours a bit so she could complete her doctorate while she worked for me. It brought me so much joy to help her find that path in her life and support her in that. It gives me joy to see people improving their leadership skills and pursuing their faith and commitments.   

True Leaders Are Relational 

One of the trickiest things I’m seeing right now are challenges related to mental health. It was manageable before Covid, but the pandemic added tremendous stress to the landscape on all levels. After Covid there was dialogue in the education field about how leadership and management could be relational with each other and their students, rather than transactional, as a means of battling this challenge. It’s so easy for figures in education––for any work, really––to default to transactional leadership. But that just causes more stress. Building relationships with people is something I enjoy about the current work I do. 

I think the challenge is that, to deal with the changes happening in society, we have taken on the mantra of “Let's get it done regardless of how many people it affects,” and that’s a problem. No matter what field we’re in, we need to think about our church relationships, our education relationships, etc. Relationships take time, effort and risk, but I think that is the biblical approach. That was how Jesus did it: He was relational, touching others’ lives, listening, being present.  

Leadership Advice for Christian Students 

All Christians have to battle this question: How should we live?  

When I first visited Gordon, there were 30 African American students. During my first semester there were four black students in the first-year class, so it was easy to feel like I stuck out. I became friends with my second roommate, and he told me he had not been connected to a black person before because there were none in his town. But we hit it off, we were roommates all four years, and we’re still great friends. He was the only white man in my wedding, and I was the only black person in his! I would have missed out on such a great friendship if I had limited who I interacted with. 

We also have tremendous models and ancestors who have lived hopeful lives in the midst of challenging circumstances. We shouldn’t sugarcoat reality; life is hard. Jesus said, “In this world you will have tribulation, but I have overcome the world.” I’ve taken that to heart; there’s times I’ve been sad, and I don’t feel cheerful. But I’ve learned that my smile, my joy can help others.  

Telling my story can open ways for others to share. I ask people how they’re doing, about their families. I always say, “Good morning!” regardless of the time of day it is when I see people. I always say, “It's a great day to be alive,” because this is the day the Lord has made, and he’s invited us to share in his continued creation.