My Jepson Story: Maurice Henderson, '97

*One of a collection of stories written by alumni for the Jepson School's 20th Anniversary

Since leaving the halls of the University, I have found myself putting theory to practice in every position that I have held.

In my personal and professional pursuits, I have leaned heavily on many of the principles of leadership that I learned at Jepson, specifically those pertaining to ethics, critical thinking, situational awareness, group dynamics and organizational change.

Earlier this past year, those lessons served me well while I performed the duties of a campaign manager for a highly contentious congressional re-election campaign in Missouri and later in the 2012 election cycle as the deputy campaign manager and statewide political director for the most expensive ballot measure in the history of Maryland.

Prior to reengaging the electoral process, those pillars of my own leadership were applied in my former and current role as the chief administrative officer for the District of Columbia's Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO). Before transitioning to Mayor Vincent C. Gray’s administration, I also had the privilege to serve in a number of key executive management positions in the administration of then-D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, including directing the Green Jobs DC workforce pilot and managing the most successful census count in the history of the District of Columbia as the DC Counts campaign director. With the support of then-city administrator, Neil Albert, I led the process to engage, educate and mobilize the District's residents to participate in the 2010 US Census. I began my District government career by serving as the chief of staff for OCTO.

Before serving in the Fenty administration, I was able to work closely with one of the most morally grounded and charismatic leaders in modern U.S. politics as the deputy press secretary for former Virginia governor and now U.S. senator Tim Kaine where I was the governor’s traveling press and logistics operative.

Throughout my career I have had the privilege to serve in various capacities professionally but I am equally as proud of my work in the community that has allowed me to give back in other ways as a member of various community organizations, including as a sitting board member of the University of Richmond Alumni Association.

Since 1997, I have lived and worked abroad and have been in employed in both the public and private sectors. I have been a public school teacher, a graduate student, a community advocate, an executive and a teammate. However, the most important roles that I have played in life are still as a son, brother and citizen. My Jepson education has made me better at all of those roles and I’m extremely grateful for the doors that have been opened for me and for those that I have been able to open for others as a result of that quality education that Jepson provided.

--Maurice Henderson