About

I believe leadership is a choice.

One we make long before we feel ready.

Leadership is messy.

And honest.
And deeply human.

Hi, I’m Jeremy, and I’m so glad you’re here.

My beliefs on leadership didn’t come from a textbook. It came from wrestling with my own understanding of what it meant to lead.

At 20, I was a Student Senate President. I was busy, visible, and constantly affirmed as a “leader.” But a couple of years later, working as a professional in higher education, I found myself questioning whether I had permission to lead at all.

Same person, different title. Somehow, I felt less like a leader.

That disconnect stuck with me.

So did the moments I didn’t speak up.

There was a time I was volunteering with a fraternity I wasn’t a member of. I had the experience. I had the knowledge. But I convinced myself I didn’t have the right. I stayed quiet because I wasn’t a brother. Because I didn’t have all the context. Because I was waiting for permission.

In retrospect, I realized I wasn’t only waiting until I felt ready.

I was trying to determine whether I belonged enough to speak.

I was weighing whether my experience would be welcomed, whether my voice would be taken seriously, and whether stepping forward might cost me credibility or connection.

That experience changed how I understand leadership.

Sometimes the problem isn’t whether you’re ready.

It’s whether the room has made it safe for you to begin.

What I believe about leadership

Leadership is not about having everything figured out. It is about choosing to participate in the work of building something better.

Sometimes that means speaking up before you feel completely confident. Sometimes it means asking a question, admitting a mistake, challenging a harmful norm, or having a conversation you would rather avoid.

Each of those actions requires interpersonal risk.

That is why leadership is not only about developing courageous individuals. It is also about creating communities where people feel safe enough to belong, safe enough to be curious, and safe enough to grow.

Psychological safety does not mean avoiding discomfort or removing accountability. It means building the trust people need to be honest, take responsibility, learn, and contribute.

To me, that’s leadership. Taking ownership of your impact while helping create the conditions for others to do the same.

I work with college students and emerging leaders to help them recognize that they’re not “future leaders” someday.

They’re already leading right now through the communities they’re building and the choices they make every day.

In my sessions, students often tell me they feel seen. Like they’re human before they’re anything else. Like a weight has been lifted.

Like they’ve finally been given permission to lead, to show up, and to create the kind of environments they’ve been wanting to be part of all along.

I have the coolest job in the world.

I currently serve as the Associate Director of Student Life at Grand Valley State University, where I partner with students and leaders as they discover their voice, navigate challenges, and build communities that feel welcoming, inclusive, and real.

As a speaker, facilitator, and leadership educator, I’ve facilitated programs across the country, but more importantly, I create spaces where people actually do something with what they’ve learned.

My approach is grounded, honest, and deeply relational. I care about helping people take action, own their impact, and create spaces where others feel safe, valued, and capable of growing.

Students often describe me as someone who will cheer them on, challenge them, and remind them that leadership isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up with intention and following through.

On a personal note…

Originally from Ohio (I know, red flag), I now call Michigan home, though my loyalty to the Columbus Blue Jackets and Jeni’s Ice Cream has never wavered.

Traveling is one of my favorite pastimes, and if you recommend a locally-owned taqueria, chances are you will find me there, and find me there quickly.

If I’m not facilitating or speaking, you’ll probably find me in a moody coffee shop with dim lighting and folksy music, the kind of place that feels local and a little unpolished.

Honestly, that’s the kind of space I try to create in my sessions too. Somewhere people can show up as they are, take a breath, and maybe see themselves a little more clearly.