35TH ADMINISTRATION GRAND POLEMARCH
The Grand Polemarch is proud of the fact that he is a man of God and a family man. He and his wife (Marclion McMikle) currently reside in Wind- sor, Connecticut with their daughter (Logan McMikle) and their son (Miles McMikle). His son (Miles) is a Spring 2023 initiate of the Temple University Chapter, the Lambda of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Professionally, Jimmy is a respected leadership consultant, accomplished author and sought-after motivational speaker and life coach. Three simple, yet powerful words define his mis- sion and direct his passion to equip people for success: Educate, Inspire, & Empower! He is President of the McMikle Group, LLC, a leadership training and development firm. Jimmy is also a life member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Inc. (The Boulé). He serves on a number of boards and has been honored to receive a host of national, regional and local awards for professional and community service. The Journal had a chance to sit down with Brother Jimmy McMikle, the newly installed Grand Polemarch of Kappa Alpha Psi. Journal: First and foremost, how does it feel to be installed as the Grand Polemarch of Kappa Alpha Psi? Grand Polemarch McMikle: In a word… Unbelievable! In an orga- nization of approximately 200,000 men of achievement with such a rich illustrious history, the honor of being only the 35th person elected to occupy
On the campus of Indiana University, Grand Polemarch McMikle’s journey is over 30 years in the making.
this office and hold the responsibility of leading a nation of achievers is humbling. And at the same time, I’m energized by the opportunity to make Kappa Alpha Psi a more significant and relevant force. Throughout my years of service in various leadership roles (profession- ally and in service), my approach at each step has been four-fold: 1. To elevate the bar and reset the standard of leadership expectation for the position held, 2. To cast vision and a create a sense of urgency that moti- vates significant movement toward goal accomplishment, and 3. Lead and empower people to produce a level of measured accomplishment that exceeds the expectations of those of who entrusted you with the leadership position that you hold, and 4. Leave the next leader in a better position for success than the situation you walked into. That’s the same method- ology that I’ll apply to this leadership opportunity.
Journal: Did you imagine yourself rising to this role when you were initiated? McMikle: I don’t think that any person anticipates being the Grand Polemarch when they’re first initiated. I surely didn’t. I don’t think anyone comprehends the magnitude of the scope of leadership on the national level of this fraternity as a neophyte. When I crossed, I was just happy with my first assignment of working on a chapter committee. At the time, I thought being a chapter Polemarch was a far reaching goal. I can still recall the hurdle I had to jump over to earn a yes vote from the brothers of Alpha Chapter. I remember being hammered in my undergraduate interview by the brothers. They questioned how the level of time commitment required of a college athlete, would allow me to be a productive part of Kappa. I made a whole lot of promises in that room… in the library of the Elder Watson Diggs Memorial. I was determined to prove
24 THE JOURNAL ♦ SUMMER 2023
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