Meet the Stephen Ball first ever black man to become dean of students at the prestigious Harvard Law School (HLS) which has been in existence over 200 years ago.
Stephen is a 36 years old young man who is a native of Metro Detroit, but grew up in city Southfields.
According to what Stephen said, he made it known to all that the city has influenced his life positively and as such contributed to who he is today.
“Southfield offered a rich mosaic of ethnic, racial and economic diversity, all situated alongside the larger sphere of Detroit’s unique history and complex socio-economic dynamics. Its unique diversity influenced me in my formative years, and it continues to shape my perception of how people from different backgrounds can all coexist, live and thrive together,” Ball Said
However, ball started his university education at the University of Michigan, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and his master’s in public policy. In 2010, he graduated from Harvard Law School with his Juris Doctor. During graduate school, he did a number of stints as an intern in political and nonprofit spaces, including one at the office of the mayor of Detroit.
In one of his speech, Stephen said;
“I often tell students that their career arc is presumably long – somewhere from 30-40 years, perhaps even more. For that reason, they should embrace their curiosities and passions, provided other life responsibilities allow them to. Take strategic risk – challenge yourself. Don’t stagnate if you don’t have to. Even if things don’t necessarily work out the way you plan or envision, you’ll appreciate the overall life journey and the lessons learned along the way. In fact, the unexpected developments are often the most rewarding,”
Ball has recently been named the new dean of students at Harvard Law School (HLS), making history as the first Black man to hold the position in over 200 years.
Talking about his new role in HLS, he said;
“I view the value of the role as helping students optimize their experience at HLS while also positioning them to succeed in their life after law school. Although I enjoyed aspects of my student experiences at HLS, there were many times when the environment felt foreign, even though I had succeeded at U of M, another elite academic setting. I understand that things probably have not changed too much for today’s students, so I want to do all that I can to enrich their experience by ensuring they are able to leverage HLS’s abundance of resources, help them feel more connected to the HLS community, support them in navigating mental health challenges, and come away thinking fondly of their time in Cambridge,”
Speaking about the significance of Stephen Balls appointment, the dean of students service at Harvard Law School said;
“Our dean of students plays such an integral role in our community, helping shape the student experience and providing support and mentorship to our students, from orientation to commencement. Stephen brings tremendous experience and a genuine commitment to our students, and we are thrilled to welcome him back to Harvard Law School and to our student services team,”
From all of us at yabacampus.com, we wish him a hearty congratulations!
Credit: BOTWC
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