“To prepare and inspire students for success and for thoughtful engagement in the world” is the mission statement of Davis & Elkins College. It is a noble calling—one we take seriously.
For the past four years, one student has served as “President for a Day” while I stepped into the life of a student. This year, six of my colleagues on the President’s Cabinet joined me in this annual exchange with seven students.
Dubbed “Wacky Wednesday – Cabinet Flip Day,” the experience was a resounding success. For students, it provided a firsthand look at the inner workings of the College and, more importantly, a deeper understanding of how complex organizations operate. They interacted with members of the Board of Trustees, attended a Cabinet meeting, and gained insight into how each leadership role contributes to the institution as a whole. Just as importantly, they experienced the weight of decision-making and the balance required between vision and responsibility.
Meanwhile, Cabinet members experienced campus life through the eyes of a student. My day included attending class, participating in athletic practice, spending time in a residence hall, and sharing a meal in the dining hall. These moments reinforced something easy to forget in the routines of leadership: the student experience is not an abstraction, but a lived reality shaped by countless daily interactions. Walking in one another’s shoes fostered empathy, strengthened trust, and created a shared understanding that will continue to shape our work together.
Samy was our “President for a Day.” He is a pre-med major from Brazil and a member of the men’s basketball team. Mature beyond his years, Samy is an outstanding student who consistently earns his place on the President’s List. His academic workload is demanding; he is also shadowing an emergency room physician and working at Graceland, all while balancing the physical and mental demands of collegiate athletics.
We shared lunch in the dining hall with his teammate Walid, an international student from Lebanon. That conversation proved to be one of the most meaningful moments of the day. Samy is Jewish; Walid is Muslim. Together, they spoke candidly about the geopolitical events shaping our world and offered perspectives shaped by their respective countries and faiths. Their friendship, formed in the mountains of Randolph County, has broadened their understanding of one another and our world. Each has listened. Each has learned. Each has had preconceptions challenged and insights deepened.
Walid shared that at Davis & Elkins, he has learned how people from different backgrounds can move beyond division and find common ground. Samy reached across the table, clasped Walid’s hand, and said, “This is my brother.” I sat in quiet amazement, grateful to witness such a moment. At that dining hall table, I witnessed an alternative to the hatred and hostility that too often define our world. In that moment, I experienced hope.
When asked what we learned from this “wacky” day, the answer was simple. Our students expanded their horizons, and our administrators gained renewed perspective. Together, we strengthened a culture of openness and mutual respect—one that reminds us learning is not confined to the classroom, nor leadership to a title. In experiences like this, education fulfills its highest purpose: bringing people closer to understanding one another and, in doing so, changing the world for the better.
The journey continues…
Chris A. Wood
President
Davis & Elkins College
