Dexter Horne '16
Meet Dexter Horne '16! Passionate about public policy and government, Dexter works at The Council of State Governments, focusing on leadership development. Inspired by Centre College, he values empathy, research and lifelong learning. Dexter was honored with the Distinguished Young Alumnus Award this past fall.
An excerpt from the Q&A below. Read the full interview here.
Can you tell me about your current profession and role? How did you decide on this career path, and what influenced your decision?
Of course! I work in public policy/government for a national nonprofit organization called The Council of State Governments (or CSG). CSG has been around since the Great Depression, convening state policymakers from across the country to learn about emerging policy trends, exchange best practices, and receive training to sharpen their leadership skills.
These days I primarily focus on the third leg of our work: leadership development. I develop workshops to expand the personal, professional, and emotional skill sets of state leaders, both elected and appointed. I’m formally trained in conflict resolution and developing workshops to help state leaders deal with conflict better is a big part of my job these days.
I came to this career path after I was inspired by the potential of government to make people’s lives better which I experienced first-hand when I interned in the Mayor of Louisville’s office my sophomore year at Centre. I worked in a department that used data to improve the delivery of city services and was impressed by how statistics could be used to make cities run more efficiently. I declared for the Politics major at Centre after that internship and have been a student of American political history, data science, and governance ever since.
Beyond academics, how did your experiences at Centre College contribute to your personal growth and development?
My Centre experience opened me up to the world, expanding my capacity for empathy and allowing me to approach life with curiosity. I also credit my time at Centre with developing my skills and confidence as a leader.
Being a Bonner Scholar was one of the best things that ever happened to me. My peers in that program came from backgrounds very different from my own, and their willingness to be vulnerable and explore our differing thoughts and opinions on a variety of sociopolitical issues transformed me into being a much more thoughtful person.
Additionally, my time in Phi Kappa Tau allowed me to test and refine my abilities as a leader. With Phi Tau I led fundraising efforts, organized community service events, and ultimately served as President of the organization. In each role, my brothers taught me what good leadership looks like, and how to best utilize the skills of others to accomplish a goal. I’d never been put in charge of anything until I became a Phi Tau. Since graduating though, I have been comfortable stepping up and taking on challenging leadership roles time and again during my career. I think my time in Centre’s Greek life has prepared me to throw my hat in the ring when opportunities arrive.
Are you currently involved in any organizations or initiatives outside of your professional life that are especially meaningful to you?
Yes! My personal philosophy is that people should – as time allows – stay involved in groups outside of work so to build a sense of community in their lives.
For the past six years I’ve helped lead the Kentucky Chapter of New Leaders Council, an organization that trains and connects self-identified progressives in the Commonwealth. That network has helped me stay connected to the work of my service-minded friends across the state. I credit that network for keeping me anchored here in Kentucky. They make this place continue to feel like home.
I also have the pleasure of serving as the Chair of the Development Committee for Louisville Public Media which operates Louisville’s local NPR station, 89.3 WFPL, as well as 90.5 WUOL and 91.9 WFPK, independently operated classical and contemporary music stations, respectively. I am a big supporter of independent journalism, and Louisville Public Media has one of the most impressive publicly funded, locally focused journalism outfits in KyCIR Investigations as well. Check them out!
Finally, I serve on the board of visitors for my graduate school, the Martin School of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Kentucky and on the Centre College Alumni Association Board.
How did living on campus and engaging with the Centre College community shape your worldview or personal values?
As I mentioned before, being a Bonner Scholar opened me up to the worldview that the perspectives and lived experiences of others deserve my curiosity and respect. But beyond that, the culture of Centre’s campus – the intimacy of it – nurtured a love in me for the simple act of hanging out.
Whether on the front porch of the Phi Tau house, the stone base of the Lincoln statute, or at the high tables in Cowan, some of the happiest memories I have from my time at Centre are defined by leisurely conversations I had with other students or professors during those times when we all declared we needed a break. Those conversations were sometimes silly, oftentimes they were about politics, sports, art, and life, but no matter how trivial or serious these talks were, the time spent doing nothing was always appreciated.
As an older adult now, I must remind myself how good it felt to take those breaks and build relationships with my peers around leisure. It’s rejuvenating to do nothing but laugh and argue with friends and Centre was full of opportunities for that.
What advice would you give to current Centre College students looking to maximize their experiences and opportunities while on campus?
Don’t take leisure for granted. The only regrets that I have about my time at Centre are related to the people I didn’t make an effort to get to know over coffee, or the moments when I let stress about my future prevent me from taking a deep breath and enjoying what I had in the present.
Sounds lame, I get that, but honestly you work a lot better when you remember to give yourself time to reset and power back up. You’re around a lot of cool, brilliant people right now who might be important to you for the rest of your life. Prioritize your relationships with them.