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Student Spotlight: Warren Meeks Jr.'22 (Business Management)
Carrying Out God’s Mission Through Wise Business
This week, we’re shining the spotlight on Warren Meeks as he completes his degree in Business Management. Meeks is the Executive Director of Rochester Family Mission and the Co-Pastor of Victorious Living Christian Life Center.
What’s it like being the Executive Director of Rochester Family Mission?
I love being able to help people who are truly struggling.
It reminds me of when I was young and my mother was raising three boys alone. There were times when money was low and we needed food.
Places like our local church met that need and supplied us with groceries until my mother got her paycheck.
What’s it like being the Co-Pastor of Victorious Living Christian Life Center?
My favorite aspect is teaching the Word to those I feel need it most.
The people who need to hear the Word the most are those that are lost to sin.
In one of Jesus' most famous sermons, He called for everyone to “repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17, NKJV) It is our job to make disciples.
How do you use your Roberts education to inform your current career?
Each career I’m in involves knowing how to conduct business. This education has provided me with the tools to manage properly.
Many of my business courses such as Strategic Planning, Organizational Leadership, and Diversity and Oppression are key courses that focus on the conduct of a leader.
Diversity and Oppression created so much healthy dialogue with many different ethnically diverse classmates. We explored how to be fair and respectful to all people, regardless of race or gender.
It is important to make sure when dealing with people that a leader knows how to treat everyone ethically and respectfully.
While working at the Mission, I meet many people from different backgrounds. Instead of trying to judge them for their circumstances, I find ways to better their current condition.
Regarding your academic coursework at Roberts, what do you feel will be the most helpful after you graduate?
I’m currently taking an Applied Research course. I feel this course will help me be able to continuously discover the needs of the communities I currently serve and will serve in the future.
For example, taking an environmental scan of the community helps a leader discover all the needs of that community. Recently, I noticed that most people needed transportation in order to get tested for COVID-19. For many, not having adequate transportation caused them to not be able to do everything they needed.
Therefore, I decided to add COVID-19 testing at the Mission.
I also connected with local officials to pass out at-home tests for residents in the RFM community.
What advice would you give to incoming Adult and Graduate students?
Make sure you know how to write and brush up on your grammar.
These foundational elements are necessary in many courses and being a good writer is key.
Overall, you get out of life what you put into it, including your education.
Faculty Feedback
"Warren’s easy-going personality is awesome. His classroom conduct leads me to believe he is as influential and inspiring in personal and professional settings as he is in ours.
"Hewas a joy to have in my class. As the only male student of six students, he held his own while being transparent and respectful of his all-female cohort when discussing sensitive topics with classmates."
-Marvin Stepherson, Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice
I have had the pleasure of working with Warren not only as his advisor as he completes his Business Management degree, but also as his professor. Warren is a hard-working and focused student, who also cares deeply about his family and his work at the Rochester Family Mission.
"The workload he has taken on would be difficult for any student, but Warren handles it with grace and tenacity. It has been a wonderful experience working with him, and I look forward to seeing what other wonderful things are ahead for Warren after he completes his degree.
-Joy Rebstein, Adjunct Professor in the School of Business
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