Description
Book SynopsisFrom Cotton Fields to University Leadership is an uplifting story about the power of education, the impact of community and mentorship, and the importance of dreaming big.
Trade Review"Far too often we meet leaders and forget their journeys to leadership. We forget the struggles, the stumbles, the surprises, and the enormous amount of hard work they put in, amidst twists and turns along the journey. Charlie Nelms has written an autobiography that is authentic, humble, and serves as an example for those leaders who will follow him. His voice, honesty, humor, and compassion shine through his life story."—Dr. Marybeth Gasman, Director, Penn Center for Minority-Serving Institutions, author of Educating a Diverse Nation: Lessons from Minority-Serving Institutions
"I have called Charlie Nelms a friend for almost 40 years. In his memoir, the realities of his life take on the qualities of a good docudrama, providing the back story to the development of a remarkable educational leader. His is "the examined life," filled with honesty, humor, and humility. While this is uniquely Charlie's story, it is a story that will lift the hearts of many and inspire future generations of leaders."—Betty J. Overton, Director, National Forum on Higher Education for the Public Good
"In the tradition of Booker Washington and Benjamin Mays, Charlie Nelms tells his riveting story from share croppers' son in rural Arkansas to university president. His memoir is a testament to the power of aspiration, character and education to overcome poverty and adversity. At a time when young people ask if college matters, Nelms' testimony is proof that university education remains an engine of social mobility and personal transformation. "—Michael L. Lomax, President & CEO, United Negro College Fund (UNCF)
Table of ContentsForeword by Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough
Preface
Acknowledgments
1. "I'll Fly Away"
2. How I Got Over
3. Tacks and Splinters
4. College Bound
5. From Dairy-hand to Bookstore Clerk
6. Everything Before Us
7. Boot Camp
8. "If I Had a Hammer"
9. Holding Fast
10. This Spinning Top
11. Full Circle
