The idea to success with Gregory Wilkins
Emily Cobb | September 22, 2022
Willow Solomon
Gregory Wilkins
Many students have noticed a certain energetic man with long curly hair walking around campus, but not many know who that is. Gregory Wilkins is a Warren Wilson College (WWC) alumni who graduated in 1990 with three majors: intercultural studies, history and political science with a minor in visual arts.
Before Wilkins came to WWC, he was into musical theater, even performing on Broadway and touring throughout his teenage years until he was 16.
“Theater for me was transformative in that I was able to find a voice and a space and a place with a whole bunch of other like-minded people,” Wilkins said. “It was a haven for me.”
Then he left his family behind and attended preparatory school in St. Louis, Mo. for a year. Wilkins was in charge of paying for his school and worked odd jobs such as reading for the blind, gardening, theater and custard making to make ends meet. After, he finished up his senior year back with his twin brother and then stumbled across WWC driving through the campus as his mother made her way to a women’s conference.
“They made reservations for us here at the St. Clair Guesthouse and we pulled into campus right by Kitteridge and I said, ‘stop the car, this is where I am coming to school’,” Wilkins said. “My mother thought I was nuts.”
When Wilkins started his freshman year, he worked at Gladfelter for his work crew. Back then it was self-operated as a food service program and it was required for all students to work 15 hours a week.
“I think for the longitudinal best interest of the institution, it is essential that the college increases the work hours, as well as returns some of the crews that left during COVID-19,” Wilkins said. “Because I think those skill sets are essential.”
Wilkins moved onto the International Student Office where he won a work award his sophomore year. For the rest of his time at Wilson, he worked on the Garden Crew, Farm Crew, Heating Crew and Heavy Duty Crew. He was also a residence hall manager for Sunderland.
During his freshman year, he heard an alum speak about taking one's ideas and blowing them up. Inspired by this, he wrote pages of things he might want to do throughout his lifetime.
“It is not like the 10 commandments, they are not written in stone, if they do not work for you, scratch them out and do a rewrite,” Wilkins said.
To Wilkins, this helped to create a foundation on which he could build and continue his life goals. For him, some of them were philanthropy, world travel, indigenous and LGBTQ+ rights. Wilkins wrote a personal vision statement in 1985 which is “creating a life of change impacting the lives of the one or the many.” Wilkins views this as his moral compass which he can refer back to whenever he feels he is off the path.
After WWC, Wilkins received his graduate degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and then did another graduate program and Ph.D. coursework at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, FL.
Wilkins has spent time trying to pursue his vision statement. Such as working at the Smithsonian, working at the Olympics twice, living on a reservation, fundraising, restoring turtle habitats and working with nonprofits and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) internationally.
“I like rolling up my sleeves and hearing what that community might need or want and how I might be able to make that idea a reality,” said Wilkins.
Wilkins currently lives in Minnesota where he works at Minnesota State University, Mankato. For his last sabbatical, he worked with indigenous communities in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Borneo and Bangladesh, and visited 18 different universities.
Wilkins ended up becoming stuck in Italy during his sabbatical due to COVID-19, so he decided to have his next sabbatical somewhere in the country. Landing him back at WWC. Wilkins wants WWC students to utilize their time here well. Saying how WWC is already a unique place, why not continue that idea and grow as an individual?
Willow Solomon
“Take risks,” Wilkins said. “Do not be ordinary, be extraordinary. I think by getting to know others it makes you a better person because you are then able to speak to otherness.”
As Wilkins did, WWC and its students and staff can also adopt their own vision statements and then implement them. Wilkins encourages folks to see what they are passionate about and then live their lives to achieve those passions and goals.
“Are you just talking the talk?” Wilkins asked. “Or are you seeing the talk and dancing the walk? If not it just becomes lip service. Really model your behavior.”
Wilkins currently has a goal of becoming a centenarian. He plans on leaving all of his estates to WWC and its endowment once he passes. Currently, his estate has enough to double WWC’s endowment, and if he does live to 100, it could increase the endowment by 300%. Wilkins wants the money to go to queer scholarships, international students, foundational needs, native seed collections and more.
“It is a legacy,” Wilkins said. “As the money grows it will set this institution up for long-term success.”
Wilkins has many plans for his year here, including a “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” workshop, a mural of the Blue Ridge Mountains, work with the Center for Integrated Advising Coaches (CIAC), work with the farm crew, garden crew, the fiber arts crew and more.
“I want to build some skill sets, and potentially even leave something after my tenure here behind as a gift,” said Wilkins. “Not just my time but also talent.”