Teen Mom to University Dean: Linda Hall Journey of Resilience and Leadership

8/22/25 Update: Due to the Dismantling DEI Departments Act, the University of Memphis closed the Multicultural Affairs Office, impacting and upsetting thousands of students and alumni who benefit from that office, Dean Hall, and staff.

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In this episode of S.O. What! Success Stories, I had the honor of talking to one of my mentors and biggest supporters, Dean Linda Hall.

Linda Hall is the first woman to serve as Associate Dean of Multicultural Affairs at The University of Memphis. I met her back in 1997, and if you were around UofM back then, you probably know her as Mrs. Linda. To me, she’s always been more than just a university leader—she’s been a constant source of support, especially for students of color navigating the challenges of college life.

In our interview, Mrs. Linda Hall opens up about her journey from being a young mother balancing school and life to working her way from secretary to dean.

She shares how she overcame obstacles, like facing a less-than-welcoming environment in her initial major and juggling her academic and family responsibilities. Through it all, her resilience shines through. She talks about the importance of not giving up, finding your passion, and pushing forward despite the challenges you face.

Watch the full interview and hear more about Mrs. Linda’s incredible journey, her advice on success, and the power of resilience.

👉 Tune in now, like, share, and subscribe for more inspiring stories like Linda’s!

Remember, new S.O. What! Success stories will be posted each month. Subscribe to my YouTube channel, and don’t miss a single episode of these inspiring interviews!

Looking for a dynamic speaker who can inspire your group to overcome challenges and embrace resilience? Contact me today to book your event, and let’s work together to empower your audience to say, “S.O. WHAT!” and turn obstacles into opportunities.

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S.O. What! Success Stories with Summer Owens is a series of casual conversations with overcomers about real life and resilience. Guests share their stories including some of the challenges they faced on their journeys to success. In each conversation, Summer breaks down the S.O. What! Success System and how implementing each of the elements leads to success in the face of even the greatest adversity.

THE S.O. WHAT! SUCCESS SYSTEM

Overcome Obstacles + Eliminate Excuses + Calculate Choices = S.O. What! Success

Learn more about Summer and how she helps individuals and organizations achieve S.O. What! Success.