university of memphis Archives - Summer Owens S.O. What! https://summerowens.com/tag/university-of-memphis/ S.O. What! Fri, 03 Oct 2025 07:38:13 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5 https://i0.wp.com/summerowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/cropped-Summer-Owens-S.O.-What.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 university of memphis Archives - Summer Owens S.O. What! https://summerowens.com/tag/university-of-memphis/ 32 32 152051023 Honoring the Memphis State Eight: How Their Courage Shaped My Journey https://summerowens.com/honoring-the-memphis-state-eight-how-their-courage-shaped-my-journey/ https://summerowens.com/honoring-the-memphis-state-eight-how-their-courage-shaped-my-journey/#respond Fri, 19 Sep 2025 21:16:18 +0000 https://summerowens.com/?p=24568 Sixty-six years ago, eight courageous students walked onto the campus of Memphis State University for the first time, integrating the school and making history. On that September day in 1959, the Memphis State Eight faced hostility and isolation so that students like me could one day thrive. Because of their bravery, my own journey was […]

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]]> https://summerowens.com/honoring-the-memphis-state-eight-how-their-courage-shaped-my-journey/feed/ 0 24568 The Power of Authentic, Resilient Leadership | Dr. Justin Lawhead https://summerowens.com/the-power-of-authentic-resilience-leadership-dr-justin-lawhead/ https://summerowens.com/the-power-of-authentic-resilience-leadership-dr-justin-lawhead/#respond Sun, 25 Aug 2024 09:00:08 +0000 https://summerowens.com/?p=23917 In this inspiring episode of S.O. What! Success Stories, I was moved by Dr. Justin Lawhead openness and vulnerability that I’m sure will move you too. As someone I consider a friend, I call him Justin.  There are people in every organization who do more than just their jobs—they live their purpose, pouring their hearts […]

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]]> https://summerowens.com/the-power-of-authentic-resilience-leadership-dr-justin-lawhead/feed/ 0 23917 S.O. What! Success Stories: Lisa Moore https://summerowens.com/s-o-what-success-stories-lisa-moore/ https://summerowens.com/s-o-what-success-stories-lisa-moore/#respond Sun, 28 Jul 2024 09:30:25 +0000 https://summerowens.com/?p=23887 It’s funny when you meet someone who looks so different from you and who has a completely different background from you, but you end up being so much alike. And even discovering more similarities with life transitions. Lisa Moore, founder and CEO of Moore Possibilities Consulting. With over 35 years of leadership experience, Lisa helps […]

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]]> https://summerowens.com/s-o-what-success-stories-lisa-moore/feed/ 0 23887 Embracing Legacy and Resilience: How to Honor Legacy and Foster Resilience Through Symbolic Actions https://summerowens.com/embracing-legacy-and-resilience-how-to-honor-legacy-and-foster-resilience/ https://summerowens.com/embracing-legacy-and-resilience-how-to-honor-legacy-and-foster-resilience/#respond Mon, 13 May 2024 23:43:21 +0000 https://summerowens.com/?p=23764 I’m not sure how I came to the realization of the importance of embracing legacy and resilience, but I have learned to love the power in journies of those who have come before me. Especially, because I am a black woman, I appreciate and honor the legacy of black women. Last month I struggled through […]

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]]> https://summerowens.com/embracing-legacy-and-resilience-how-to-honor-legacy-and-foster-resilience/feed/ 0 23764 Empowering Women’s History Month: Honoring Legacies and Creating Your Own https://summerowens.com/empowering-womens-history-month-speaker-summer-owens-legacies/ https://summerowens.com/empowering-womens-history-month-speaker-summer-owens-legacies/#respond Fri, 01 Mar 2024 09:30:25 +0000 https://summerowens.com/?p=23668 As we step into Women’s History Month, I can’t help but reflect on the incredible women who have shaped history and left an indelible mark. In this photo, I’m surrounded by two of my friends and mentors, Beverly Robertson and Rose Flenorl, both history-makers in their own right. Honoring History-Makers and Mentors Beverly, the long-time […]

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]]> https://summerowens.com/empowering-womens-history-month-speaker-summer-owens-legacies/feed/ 0 23668 Empowering Black & Women’s History: Unveiling Stories of Resilience https://summerowens.com/empowering-black-womens-history-resilience/ https://summerowens.com/empowering-black-womens-history-resilience/#respond Fri, 26 Jan 2024 09:30:11 +0000 https://summerowens.com/?p=23643 As we approach the upcoming Black History Month and Women’s History Month celebrations, I want to share a personal snapshot with you. A moment frozen in time when I left the football field as Ms. University of Memphis. Making history as the third black woman to claim that title in the University’s history. The young […]

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]]> https://summerowens.com/empowering-black-womens-history-resilience/feed/ 0 23643 Redefining Resilience: Jae Henderson S.O. What! Success Story https://summerowens.com/redefining-resilience-the-jae-henderson-so-what-success-story/ https://summerowens.com/redefining-resilience-the-jae-henderson-so-what-success-story/#respond Sun, 19 Nov 2023 10:00:20 +0000 https://summerowens.com/?p=23599 Most of the time, we don’t understand the impact or importance of relationships until years (or even decades) later. I met Jae Henderson when we were both undergrads at the University of Memphis. She was a Zeta, and I was an AKA. As part of the special Greek unity at our school, we were sisters. […]

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]]> https://summerowens.com/redefining-resilience-the-jae-henderson-so-what-success-story/feed/ 0 23599 The Success of the Inaugural S.O. What! Awards and Scholarship Soiree https://summerowens.com/s-o-what-awards-and-scholarship-soiree/ https://summerowens.com/s-o-what-awards-and-scholarship-soiree/#respond Fri, 05 May 2023 05:09:39 +0000 https://summerowens.com/?p=23303 One night about six years ago, I had a dream about an awards and scholarship program. I’ve been a part of several awards programs either as a recipient or helping to plan the event, and I knew I wanted this one to be special. On April 29, 2023 my dream was realized. With the help […]

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]]> https://summerowens.com/s-o-what-awards-and-scholarship-soiree/feed/ 0 23303 New Leadership Feels SO Good https://summerowens.com/new-leadership-feels-so-good/ https://summerowens.com/new-leadership-feels-so-good/#respond Mon, 09 Jan 2023 01:52:28 +0000 https://summerowens.com/?p=23193 You never know where your dreams can take you. In 2011, I started my speaking business, S.O. What! LLC, and the next year I founded the S.O What! Foundation. I had no idea how hard it would be to lead and grow both organizations simultaneously. For over a decade I’ve kept both going and growing […]

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