Morgan Hodgkinson, a graduate of Collins Hill High School (2017) and of University of Georgia (2021) works for SeamonWhiteside as a Civil Design Engineer. She participated in EarthCare Summer Leadership Institute while in high school. “We learned how to make other people feel included. That was the first time I realized how different people’s values and needs were in relationships and how to pick up on those values in conversations.” ~Morgan Hodgkinson
Paint a brief picture of what you are doing now.
I am a civil design engineer in Charleston, South Carolina. My company, SeamonWhiteside, specializes in designing innovative spaces that enrich lives and leave a lasting legacy for future generations.
I graduated from the University of Georgia with an Environmental Engineering degree. While in college I was a research engineer for the USDA ARS and also performed research under Dr. Jenna Jambeck regarding the effects of plastic pollution in rivers and in landfills.
How did participating in 21CL transform you and lead you to where you are now?
21CL gave me the opportunity to learn soft skills that school did not teach me and provided me the opportunity to practice these new skills in an inclusive setting.
There are many distinct memories where the skills I learned during 21CL came useful. The coolest experience was when I was representing the undergraduate student population at The University of Georgia for the annual Board of Regents Conference where I spoke on my research and the impact it would have on the environment. Presidents of various colleges and universities across the state came up to me impressed with my public speaking and my networking skills. Without 21CL I wouldn’t have been comfortable in that situation.
Which programs did you participate in? How did the skills/tools/perspectives you acquired from 21CL prepare you for your next steps, going into college, taking on new leadership roles in your community, college and after?
I participated in EarthCare the summer of 2016. Prior to that summer leadership institute, I had an interest in the environment but I didn’t understand how many unique careers were in the industry. EarthCare gave me the opportunity to learn soft skills like how to give a proper handshake, public speaking tips and networking. Little did I know at the time, it showed me my future career path. I believe in order to achieve greatness, you have to have confidence in yourself and 21CL taught me just that.
Do you have a memorable or ‘aha’ moment during your time at 21CL? (Particular program, meeting a professional and diverse peers, speaking in public for the first time, etc.?)
I remember the session about learning how different personalities work together. Everyone took a leadership personality quiz and got a color band. We learned how to make other people feel included. That was the first time I realized how different people’s values and needs were in relationships and how to pick up on those values in conversations.
Did 21CL assist you in developing a leadership style that makes you an effective leader? If so, how? And have you recently learned something else about leadership? Please share!
Yes! Leadership in my mind focuses on 2 main categories: being aware of your surroundings and being confident in your actions. Most sessions during the leadership institute focused on how to build these categories. Another thing I have learned about leadership recently is being in the right mindset. “Optimism drives the world forward.”