Beau Brockett, Jr., ’19
Major: English (Creative Writing/Poetry)
Concentrations: Public Policy and Service (Ford), Honors
Hometown: Richmond, MI
With what organizations are you involved on campus?
- Cross Country
- Track
- Albion Pleiad (Managing Editor)
- Albion College Democrats
Why did you choose Ford?
Why did you choose Ford?
I signed up for a class called Sustainable and Innovative Cities taught by Director Patrick McLean my first semester at Albion. I came into that course wanting to be a Sustainability Studies major and came out absolutely in love with the way cities live, breathe, thrive, and adapt. An opportunity to spend time in Detroit through the Sleight Leadership Fellows program only increased that fascination, especially in seeing how all of its businesses, programs, and neighborhoods interacted. A semester later, I joined the Ford Institute and it has been a blast ever since.
What current issue/topic is important to you?
Unsurprisingly, a topic of importance to me is local government. Local governments implement all state and national policies, yet receive little support from these larger governments. Instead, they struggle to secure grant money for projects, cannot fund infrastructure updates, and are often restricted from conceiving innovative projects. I hope in the future, state and national governments will realize that municipalities and counties are where the people live and this is where everything happens.
What has been the most influential moment for you thus far at Albion College?
Each year, the cross country team takes a bus up into Wisconsin to run at a large meet. This past season, we stopped at a small Italian restaurant in a small city to eat. As I sat there, surrounded by some of my closest friends, I realized how fortunate I was to have chosen Albion and be surrounded by inspiring friends, coaches (and professors) whose compassion shines and who want to help me succeed in anything I set my mind on.
What do you envision yourself doing after Albion?
In terms of a career, I am still not sure. I do know, however, that I would enjoy the opportunity to write for my career, work as a part of a city, or work for a nonprofit or foundation. As long as I can live a comfortable life with a job I enjoy and (most importantly) good, constant company, I will be content.