The College of Education and Behavioral Science at Arkansas State University hosted the Pack Empowerment Celebration of Character, highlighting the importance of character development in today’s world.

Audrey Bowser, associate dean of community outreach and engagement, played a key role in organizing the event.

“Students and faculty are the heart of the college’s outreach work. They are our priority,” Bowser said. “Faculty often co-design and lead initiatives that align with their research interests. Our students then bring the energy, creativity and mastery.”

Jesse Pappas, co-director of the Engineering Character Strength Initiative at the University of Virginia, also spoke at the event.

“Good character isn’t something you have, it’s something you do — a way of showing up here at A-State,” Pappas said. “You don’t just talk about character, you practice it, you celebrate it, and increasingly, you’re leading the way in figuring out how to cultivate this across the entire university ecosystem.”

He said that character is demonstrated every day on campus.

“At Arkansas State, every Red Wolf counts. But what today’s celebration reminds us is that every Red Wolf also leads — not just with skills, but with values; not just with performance, but with presence,” Pappas said.

Pappas said character is a force that shapes communities, colleges and individuals.

“These are skills that shape relationships, define reputations and build the kind of workplaces, classrooms and communities we all want to be part of,” he said. “At its worst, character education can be moralizing and prescriptive. But A-State is taking a different path — viewing character as a set of capacities students already have. The question becomes: How can we help students recognize, develop and apply them?”

Bowser said these skills help students form real-world connections and strengthen communities.

“I believe it is essential because outreach means real-world engagement,” she said. “These experiences sharpen our students’ skills and help strengthen the communities they’ll serve.”

Pappas said the university’s strength-based approach helps students grow into who they are meant to be.

“This approach doesn’t tell students who to become. It helps them discover and refine who they already are at their best,” he said. “Today is about celebrating that journey and the faculty who embed character into their teaching — not by lecturing, but by designing experiences where students must practice it.”

He also said that character strengthens students’ chances for success in any field.

“Staff who coach and mentor with compassion, students who stand up for each other, push through setbacks and keep showing up — even when no one else is watching — these are moments of character and strength,” Pappas said. “And they deserve to be recognized.”

Dr. Annette Hux, professor and dean, said the character empowerment events have been a meaningful part of her work with students.

“I’ve been involved with the character event for the past three years, coming from the educational leadership curriculum and special education department,” Hux said. “We started at the graduate level and saw the opportunity to bring it to our undergraduate programs — not just one program, but across the college and university.”

She said these skills help prepare students to lead beyond graduation.

“If we can take our students and empower them–just like our hashtag, pack empowerment–and empower the pack to become better, stronger individuals of character, leadership and active listening, we’ll be equipping them for their futures,” Hux said. “These aren’t soft skills–they’re core skills. And our goal is to help students carry them into the professional world.”

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