News > April 19, 2007

By Molly Nevola | Staff writer

For 25 years he’s been a distinguished face of leadership and service on the university campus. You can’t miss him on the third floor of Benson University Center, juggling work within the Student Development office while readily preparing for freshmen orientation in the fall. His name is Mike Ford, but you can just call him Mike.

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Mike Ford, current director of student development at the university, arrives to Kitchin House as a freshman student in 1968. Ford has been working at the university since 1981. (Photo courtesy of the Ford Library)

“It has been very fulfilling and gratifying to work with the student these past 25 years,” he said, “That’s one of the things that excites me about my job every day.”

The son of nationally and historically renowned parents, Ford said that he is incredibly proud of their legacy of public service and how it has shaped who he is today, but it does not define him. “Everybody wants to create their own future and destiny; I’d like to be related to as Mike Ford,” he said.

Ford grew up in Alexandria, Va., and attended T.C. Williams High School, the public school on which the film Remember the Titans is based.

During his senior year in high school, he took a college tour with his father, visiting a number of schools in Virginia and North Carolina and was immediately drawn to the university.

In the fall of 1968, Ford was dropped off with his few pieces of luggage in front of Kitchin House to embark upon his college career.

As an undergraduate political science major, Ford was involved in many student leadership activities, which shaped his interest today in leadership development. “I was involved in Student Government and also College Union for three years, which was the Student Union of that day,” Ford said.

Ford served as the chairperson for events that could be paralleled to today’s Springfest, worked with College Republicans and notably served as the president of his fraternity, Sigma Chi.

During his time at the university, Ford was, of course, he said, an avid supporter of university athletics, university events and cultural activities, but more currently has given a lot of his time to Samaritan ministries – the homeless shelter and soup kitchen in downtown Winston.

He has been on the board of directors there for some time and is the president this year. “It’s an amazing place,” he said.

As for goals coming out of the university post graduation in 1972, Ford’s initial interest was in law school, but chose to defer that to pursue other interests.

He moved to Chicago to work for his national fraternity, and it was then that he felt a sense of calling to ministry. He headed off to Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in the Boston area for a masters in divinity.

Ford, newly married to his college sweetheart Gayle, decided to move to Pittsburgh and become a Presbyterian campus minister at the University of Pittsburgh.

He returned to the university in 1981, and since then he has held offices such as the director of student activities, the assistant dean of students in the dean’s office and the Greek life overseer.

His current work in student development allows him to work with student organizations, aiding in their chartering and the formation of their constitutions.

He also promotes volunteer service and educates students in leadership, especially through the longstanding program, LEAD, each spring.

“I think at Wake Forest we are in the business of educating the whole person: that’s mind, body and spirit,” he said.

Ford said that the role they play in student development is to try and bring integration of learning for students in their intellectual lives as well as in their personal lives.

He helps students apply their world view to how they live and practically express themselves.

One of his priorities is that each student is educated and supported in three areas: leadership, emotional intelligence and character. “I don’t think you can really receive that specific education and training in the classroom,” he said.

The mission that Ford seeks to bring to the university is reflected the importance of his Christian faith.

“It is something that is integrated into all dimensions of my life, my family, my work with Samaritan ministries,” he said.

Ford hopes to continue to work in direct service through mentoring and training students to become “enlightened citizens” within our world.

One of his personal future dreams is that the university create a center for leadership and service.

“The center could incorporate those three dimensions and would really complement well the academic excellence of the university,” Ford said.

He would like to see the trend towards partnership between academic affairs and student life furthered, as it would connect field work to the learning experience.

“I am excited about the direction of the university in terms of its mission pro humanitate. I think it is truly invigorating.”

Ford said that is important to be engaged in the community, and working with students he is afforded the opportunity to help them develop into their full potential as citizens and leaders of our country.

“One thing that is very fulfilling to me in the 25 years that I have worked with students is the tremendous blessing and satisfaction to be able to have a relationship with students,” he said.

He noted that it is incredible to be able to meet students upon their arrival as freshmen and see such idealism, excitement and energy.

“I am blessed to have the opportunity to guide and mentor and advise them along their four years to the point that when they graduate, they are remarkable young men and women who are ready to change the world.”

It was Ford’s desire to give back to the university by educating students in the areas of leadership, development and service that he experienced in his time here.

Now, Ford says he is very blessed to see many students grow and develop as leaders.

“It is such a gift to have a little part of that and feel like you made a difference in their lives,” he said. “And when graduation comes every year, it tugs on my heart to say goodbye to students that I have had a chance to work closely with.”

“I am excited for them as they step out into the world, and I will miss them.”