Leadership Highlight: Coahoma Community College Student Government President Haile Barrett

In an effort to highlight the people who are leading colleges and universities across the nation, we at Watch The Yard reached out to Coahoma Community College and did an interview with Haile Barrett, the 2024-2025 Student Government Association president.

The position of SGA president is a highly respected role, and there is a special pride in being elected by peers to lead. Haile Barrett, who is majoring in Athletic Training/Sports Medicine, is from Kingston, Jamaica.

We interviewed Haile Barrett and talked to her about her position, goals, future, and what it means to hold this type of leadership position in 2024-2025.

Read the full interview below.

What is the biggest thing you’ve learned as an SGA president so far?

The most important lesson I’ve learned as SGA president so far is how to effectively integrate diversity, equity, and inclusivity for the benefit of the larger community as well as my board. Being international has made me more aware of the reality that I am managing a large number of diverse people with a range of needs, from those who require emotional support services to those who simply require more stimulating activities on campus.  The main goal of equity and inclusivity as a student leader is to guarantee that all students, irrespective of their backgrounds, have equal access to opportunities for success and feel acknowledged and appreciated. It involves acknowledging the distinct difficulties that various groups have and making an effort to eliminate obstacles.

What made you decide to attend Coahoma Community College for undergrad?

I was offered the opportunity to compete in track and field as a student-athlete in addition to my prior offers. During my phone conversations with coaches and advisors, Coahoma was the school that seemed to be the friendliest and most accepting, which was exactly what I was looking for in a school.

How has Coahoma Community College molded you into the person you are today?

I become more outgoing and resilient. Since no school is flawless, I had to overcome numerous obstacles that kept arising as well as having to learn and adopt to being around a new culture. With participating in several organizations that prepare students to become young professionals, I also gain confidence in my speech and self-presentation.

Finding my life’s purpose has been made possible by Coahoma Community College because I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to accomplish career wise, but sooner my desire to become a part of the rehab and physical therapy field become clearer to me as a result of the chances that I have been offered over the last two years where gained hands on experiences with treating athletes. Along the way, everyone here from the faculty, staff to my peers have been really supportive, which has allowed me to develop into an even more mature young lady.

What specific initiatives have you headed up this year (or are planning), and how do you think they will improve the school and surrounding community?

This semester, my team and I are working on a project that involves giving back and performing more community service. With the assistance of the local sports teams, we recently cleaned up the parks. We aim to do more clean-up projects throughout the Clarksdale and surrounding districts. In addition, our goal is to support charitable organizations that assist the homeless and underprivileged. We will be helping out at different stations by feeding the outside communities and donating as much as we can.

Lastly students in the Delta region face numerous challenges, and our goal is to make sure we offer appropriate resources to meet their needs. One of my main areas of concentration is mental health, and I’ve been collaborating with organizations off campus to help students obtain the support they require. Hopefully this collaboration will help to set balance and guidance in our student’s life and possibly change the stigma of the wider society.

How is your SGA administration/school currently working on attending to the mental health of students?

We have Zenn rooms, councilors, and, most recently, a group called mental health ambassadors that work directly with students to assist where we can but often times if it is out of our control, we relate the students concerns to our councilor in charge. In our capacity as mental health ambassadors, we are attempting to bring NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Health Illness) to campus in order to provide greater support and organize various lectures and activities centered around mental health. In SGA, we hold events on campus called Real and Raw, where we meet with students and discuss the significance of mental health as well as the ways in which mental health conditions can manifest. We also give audience members the opportunity to share their personal stories which seems very helpful because the students often say how relieved they feel after our sessions.

What does leadership mean to you?

Leadership, in my opinion, is the ability to risk all and stand up for the people you serve every single day. Being a leader is not an indication of arrogance or self-centeredness but rather selflessness. One of the most important aspects of leadership is knowing when to take charge and when to back off. Leading is seeing and setting a clear vision and holding yourself accountable for the plans and decisions you make for the greater good. A great characteristic of a leader is being coachable/teachable and understanding that you need input and constructive criticism in order to grow and fulfill your duties. 

“A leader gets things done, not just does things” is a motto that I live by as a leader. It simply means completing all tasks, not just claiming to be doing them. Lastly, leading is unsuccessful if you, as a leader, cannot successfully communicate and listen firstly, to the people you work with and for. True leadership is about inspiring others, fostering teamwork, and creating an environment where everyone can thrive. It’s about being adaptable, making tough decisions, and always striving to improve, not just for yourself but for those who depend on you.

We now live in a digital world, what do you think schools need to do to represent themselves online in 2025?

I believe school need to become more tech-savvy. Doing so schools can interact and attract students on a wider scale. Schools need to allow students to take more online classes with these classes teachers she incorporates more pre-recorded lectures and not just leave students on their own because everyone needs interaction to learn, in order to still maintain online learning requirements schools should update their online policies and the use of Ai. From a more social perspective, based on personal experience, spotlight videos should be posted on social media platforms to highlight the student and their accomplishments. Another way they could get more involved is by participating in different trends that upholds the standards of the education system on different social media platform. By embracing these strategies, schools can effectively represent themselves online and create a more interactive, informed, and connected learning environment.

Why do you think Watch The Yard is important to Black students and college culture?

Watch The Yard draws attention to and magnifies Black students’ experiences, especially in areas where they might not be as represented. From highlighting Greek life to elevating the voices of Black student leaders, it is a platform that honors the accomplishments, contributions, and culture of Black college students. For students who may otherwise feel excluded, it creates a sense of visibility, pride, and belonging. The platform has a significant impact on campus culture in addition to emphasizing the student experience. Watch The Yard allows all students to participate in discussions about diversity, inclusiveness, and racial justice while also promoting the celebration of Black heritage. It contributes to establishing the standard for honoring and respecting Black culture in academic settings.

What do you plan on doing after graduation?

After graduating I will be furthering my education in exercise science and clinicals at the Mississippi State University. After which I will either be working full time as an athletic trainer on the collegiate level or a travel physiotherapist.

We at Watch The Yard would like to commend Haile Barrett for her work as the SGA president of Coahoma Community College.

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