Lessons on Leadership: Strack Center

LESSONS ON LEADERSHIP: THE STORY BEHIND CSU’S NEW GLOBAL LEADERSHIP CENTER

By Jenna Johnson

Jay Strack at CSU Commencement 2018, where he received an honorary doctorate from the university. File photo

With a testimony of a life riddled with drug addiction, an abusive childhood, and a learning disability, Dr. Jay Strack ‘75 has shared his story worldwide for more than 30 years. A story that ultimately opened multiple doors of ministry.

“I went from being a victim to a villain. I became the Jesse James of my own life,” said Strack of his days prior to attending Charleston Southern University (then Baptist College). His time as a student proved to have everlasting impact through servant leaders and mentors like Fred Worthy, distinguished professor of computer science.

Worthy and his wife, Susan, discovered that conventional learning was not working nor was it an option for Strack, who later was diagnosed with a learning disability. Worthy and fellow faculty arranged courses and provided oral exams to assist Strack in developing his full potential.

Their actions moved the young Strack, who had already been rejected by other colleges, to see more in himself.

“I was so sensitive to being called stupid and dumb, but no one knew about dyslexia back in the day. What Fred Worthy and his wife did, it changed my life,” Strack said. “Charleston Southern went the third and fourth mile for me. They recognized that maybe there’s some other ways to learn. They gave me opportunities.”

Since his time at CSU and his own personal salvation experience, Strack has made a career out of his mission to provide “edutainment” to young adults and teens.

In 1976, Strack founded Student Leadership University, whose mission is to develop and equip student leaders to think, dream, and lead. SLU offers leadership training via annual conferences—also called “leadership adventures”—where high school students attend workshops and hear from top world and national leaders. SLU 101 begins in major U.S. cities such as Orlando, San Diego, and San Antonio. Students then progress to 201 in Washington, D.C.; 301 in Europe; and, finally, 401 in Israel.

“I’ve spent most of my life trying to keep young people from making the choices I made and trying to help young people fall in love with Jesus,” he said.

Strack’s alma mater has been closely involved with SLU for more than 20 years. CSU provides interns each year for SLU 101, and university representatives attend the conference to share information with prospective students. Other Christian universities also send representatives to recruit at SLU events. Each year, more than 100 students choose to attend CSU after participation in an SLU event.

A New Partnership

This year, Charleston Southern and Strack launched an initiative that marries SLU’s mission with CSU’s faith-based academics—the Strack Center for Global Leadership and Ministry. Where the Whitfield Center for Christian Leadership focuses on marketplace curriculum and events, the Strack Center will focus primarily on prospective students in high school and offer academic credit.

Nick Ballenger, director of the Strack Center and professional admissions, is excited to see what the future holds for this partnership. He said that the new center will be a necessary and vital tool to building upon CSU’s sustainable and growing enrollment. “We are looking to partner with high schools and build online curriculum that is relevant and that leads nationwide,” said Ballenger. “Our faculty, who are passionate about teaching and from a biblical worldview, make an imprint on students—intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually.”

The vision for the Strack Center includes offering majors, minors, and certificates in conjunction with the College of Christian Studies and CSU Online. All courses will be offered online in order to best reach students no matter where they are in the world.

The curriculum will focus on three key areas: biblical worldview and apologetics, youth culture and ministry, and global leadership strategies. Strack said he believes these core competencies are the best way to build a generation of leaders, and that Charleston Southern should be the epicenter for that.

“We believe that youth ministers and educators are the gatekeepers for a generation,” he said. “We live in an ever-changing world, and we have got to be the place where they receive an education that is intuitive and adaptive, that allows them to go anywhere in the world—inner city, rural church, mega church, nonprofit.”

The partnership also includes a 10-year sponsorship exclusivity for CSU at SLU events—which means the university will be the sole higher education institution represented. Currently, approximately 95% of SLU participants choose to go to Christian colleges and universities.

“We would love our SLU students to begin taking courses from an accredited, online university,” Strack said. “I believe Charleston Southern can become one of the leaders in the nation for dual enrollment.”

President Dondi Costin believes that this partnership is a global opportunity. “We think that the opportunities here are limitless. The Strack Center is a key element in preparing servant leaders to pursue significant lives, furthering CSU’s founding principle of The Great Commission. I’m thrilled that Jay has decided to come home, and I look forward to the Lord extending Jay’s legacy in the lives of today’s students at his alma mater.”