The Matador Institute of Leadership Engagement turns philanthropic support into high-impact learning experiences for Davis College students.
Funded entirely by industry and private donors, this three-semester professional leadership development program for undergraduate students in the college seeks to expose selected students to key issues affecting local, state, and national agriculture and policy.
In 2023, MILE was selected by the Texas Tech Office of Advancement to be a featured program during their second Texas Tech Day of Giving. Started in 2022, the one-day giving campaign uses social media to engage new donors to support programs on campus.
“The Texas Tech Day of Giving was important because it not only helped increase the visibility of the program, but it also allowed some first-time donors to be made aware of what we’re doing and contribute to that,” said MILE Program Director, Lindsay Kennedy, Ph.D.
The MILE Program uses regional agriculture tours, trip to Austin and Washington, D.C., industry engagement, and professional development to create a pipeline of trained young professionals for the workforce.
Kennedy, who is also an assistant professor of practice in agricultural communications, said she also hoped to use the Day of Giving campaign to encourage philanthropy among the MILE Program’s graduates.
“The spirit of philanthropy is a really important component of being a leader,” Kennedy said. “I want the graduates of our program to see the value in investing back into something that invested in them.”
During the 2023 Texas Tech Day of Giving, the MILE Program raised $6,500 from more than 70 donors. Gifts to the program came from a variety of people, including industry partners,
Davis College alumni, and other members of the community. Current students also contributed to the program, which Kennedy said was a special outcome of the campaign.
“I challenged all of our MILE alumni, which includes 42 people now, to give at least $10 during the Day of Giving campaign,” she said. “We had 17 alumni give back to the program, 10 of which were still students at the time.”
Kennedy said setting a precedent for future MILE alumni will be extremely impactful for years to come.
“It’s not just about the money,” she said, “it is about the intent, and I think it is really telling when you see students helping students while also investing in the program that gave them impactful opportunities to grow.”
While the Texas Tech Day of Giving highlights specific programs, like MILE, it not only gives new donors an opportunity to support student programs, but also shines a light on the tangible impact the program creates.
Lindsay Dube, a graduate of the MILE Program’s second cohort in 2021, started her MILE experience during her freshman year. The early industry exposure and professional development opportunities through the program also helped her grow personally.
“Thinking back on who I was entering into the program is surreal,” Dube said. “I gained an immense amount of maturity. The growth I underwent was both personal and professional. It did more than prepare me for my future endeavors, but it also made me a better individual, overall.”
Kennedy said she loves getting to see students’ personal and professional growth during the program.
“Leading this program has been the most rewarding thing I have ever done in my career,” Kennedy said. “I am confident these students will be difference-makers.”
Kennedy said high-impact experiential learning opportunities, like the MILE Program, would not be possible without philanthropic support.
“When people invest in our students through these types of programs, they are investing in the next generation of program-solvers for rural America and the ag industry.”
Karlee Busher, Lead Writer; Courtney Thurman, Photo Director; Ineka Dykzeul, Design Coordinator; Hannah Alto, Digital and Advertising Manager