Episode 33 | Legacy and Leadership | President Bonner

Join David's rich conversation with Jo Bonner, Jr,  the fourth president of the University of South Alabama since November 2021.  President Bonner is committed to establishing South as the Flagship of the Gulf Coast. Under his leadership, South has positioned itself as a top destination for a quality education and the region’s fastest-growing academic medical system. Bonner has visited with students, teachers, and college counselors representing more than 100 high schools throughout Alabama and along the Mississippi Gulf Coast; he has helped tell the South’s story to more than 8,500 prospective students. With a focus on engagement, Bonner initiated Jag Days, bringing high school students to campus on Jaguar Athletics buses for spirited VIP tours to see all South has to offer. His upbeat message builds on South’s journey of progress and renews its promise to students and their families: A degree from the University of South Alabama is a first-class ticket to a brighter future.   Previously, Bonner served as chief of staff to Alabama Governor Kay Ivey. For more than a decade, he represented Alabama’s First District in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he earned a reputation as a respected and influential voice of reason in both Alabama and Washington. He was a member of the House Appropriations Committee and chaired the House Ethics Committee. During Bonner’s time as chairman, the bipartisan Ethics Committee always reached unanimous votes. His crowning Congressional accomplishment came in 2012 when Airbus announced plans to build its first U.S. Final Assembly Line in Mobile. He secured a $2.8 billion contract for Austal to build 10 Littoral Combat Ships for the U.S. Navy.  You will gain wisdom and inspiration in this episode. 00:25 intro background President Jo Bonner 2:36 Growing up 6:20 Teenage years 7:43 College years 8:30 Leaders in the home 10:02 Tragedy and adversity  12:27 Camden friends  15:32 Good teachers and mentors  16:15 Other mentors  18:33 Dr. King