Adrian College President Docking presents ‘What I Learned in Class’ at Convocation
Posted Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Author: Mickey Alvarado
Adrian College President Jeffrey Docking addressed faculty, staff, and students on the topic of “What I Learned in Class” at Adrian College’s Opening Convocation in the Dr. James Borland Convocation Series on Wednesday, Sept. 9, in Herrick Chapel.
Reflecting on his 21 years as President and his years teaching a leadership class on campus, Docking outlined three of the most important insights he gained from the accomplished professionals who addressed his students: lessons about success, failure, purpose, and effective leadership.
Docking shared three short stories during his speech that pointed to larger truths about contemporary society and the ingredients of success students should know as they prepare to enter the world.
The first was about Lou Anna Simon, former President of Michigan State University, who hailed from a working-class home in a rural town in southern Indiana and rose to lead one of the greatest land-grant research universities in the country. Simon began as an hourly employee during her undergraduate years at Indiana State University and ultimately rose to serve as MSU President 40 years later. One of her secrets to success came from advice her dad gave her shortly before she left for college at 18 in 1965.
“When you get a new job,” her dad told her, “always look for those tasks, chores and jobs nobody else wants to do and then volunteer to do that job. People will notice, they will quietly respect you, and you will get promoted when openings arise.”
Simon took this advice, which she credits with playing an important role in her professional ascension to serve as the 20th President of Michigan State University.
“Everyone wants to do the fun stuff,” Docking said. “Nobody wants to do the dirty work. Those who do ultimately separate themselves from others when promotions become available.”
The second story was about Tom Izzo, a nationally known basketball coach at Michigan State University, and how his leadership success is built on getting as many people involved in achieving a goal as possible.
“Great leaders know that inspiring others to work together to achieve a goal is essential to success,” Docking said. “No one is insignificant. Everyone can play an important part in working toward a goal if you show them respect, challenge them with high expectations, and believe in their abilities.”
The third story was about Steve Yzerman, the youngest captain in Red Wings history. He served 19 seasons as captain, the longest tenure in NHL history at the time.
Docking said that when Yzerman spoke to students in the leadership class, the first thing he did was show humility by telling them he could have been a better, more focused student when he was young. He also said this was the first time he had ever spoken to a college class, and he felt certain the students could teach him because they were bright, highly educated, and enrolled in an outstanding college.
“Great leaders and great human beings are humble,” Docking said.
“The students’ main question for Yzerman was what they needed to do to be successful in sports and life.”
Yzerman said the answer was easy: “drive.”
“That’s the indefinable superpower that tells you to be relentless,” Docking said. He encouraged students to never give up. “Be a dog. Keep going. Don’t take no. Never ever back down,” he told them. “You will achieve, and you will prevail because you have more drive than the other people around you. The beauty of drive is you have total control over it ... Be relentless in life.”
Docking concluded, “You will accomplish more than you ever thought possible because you will be respected by those who see you do what no one else wants to do, bringing others along with you to achieve your goals, and displaying the drive that is required of all people to reach the mountaintop.”
During the convocation, new faculty members were welcomed and faculty members who received promotions or tenure were honored.
Andrea Milner, Adrian College Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs, presented the teaching awards. The first, the Ross Newsom Award for Outstanding Teaching, went to Dr. Jennifer Towns, associate professor and director of the College’s Social Work Program.
Towns has more than 15 years of experience in social work, providing clinical treatment in a variety of settings, including hospitals, community mental health departments, and private practice. She has been teaching in higher education for nine years at both the BSW and MSW levels and teaches courses on policy, diversity, theory, professional documentation/grant writing, research, and trauma.
Dr. Greg Thompson, Professor and Chair of the Department of Physics, received the Exemplary Teaching Excellence Award.
Thompson received a B.S. in Physics from the University of Michigan–Dearborn and an M.S. in Physics from Eastern Michigan University. His current research involves studying the photometric variability of stars using time-series data from the Kepler and TESS satellites. Thompson also has a growing interest in sonifying astronomical observations (turning data into sound) for both scientific and artistic expression.
Adrian College’s Creative Activity, Research and Scholarship Award honors significant contributions to a faculty member’s field of study. This year’s recipient is Professor Nathan Goetting.
Goetting joined the Adrian College faculty in 2008 and currently serves as a Professor of Criminal Justice and Jurisprudence and the Director of the George W. Romney Institute for Law and Public Policy. He also has a Prestige Faculty appointment with the University of Toledo College of Law. He serves as the faculty adviser to students enrolled in the Adrian College-UToledo Law Master of Arts in Criminal Justice/Juris Doctor joint degree program. His teaching and research focus on constitutional law and civil liberties.
Goetting earned a Bachelor of Arts in General Education from Aquinas College before earning a Master of Arts in Philosophy from Western Michigan University.
Dr. Elizabeth Lamprecht was named to the Faculty Hall of Fame, receiving the highest honor among Adrian College’s faculty awards.
Lamprecht is a Professor of Mathematics at Adrian College, where she also serves as Director of the Cynthia T. Bosio Mathematics Lab. She holds a B.S. in Pure Mathematics from the State University of New York at Buffalo and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in the Mathematical Sciences from the State University of New York at Binghamton.
To watch Adrian College’s Opening Convocation, visit Adrian College TV (ACTV) on YouTube.
