University of Arkansas doctoral student Tim Lampkin of Clarksdale, Mississippi, is one of 41 representatives of the Delta Leadership Institute chosen to attend a continuing education program at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Lampkin, a doctoral student in the adult and lifelong learning program in the College of Education and Health Professions, is CEO of Higher Purpose Co., a nonprofit that assists underserved entrepreneurs. The adult and lifelong learning program is delivered online through the Global Campus.

The Harvard program is a continuation of its partnership with the Delta Regional Authority. It is designed and led by Harvard faculty, focusing on cultivating leadership to move Delta communities forward.

"It is an honor to be selected to attend the prestigious Harvard Kennedy School," Lampkin said. "I look forward to learning about new strategies to improve my overall leadership ability. My goal is to share the best practices from this experience with local stakeholders to ensure others can benefit from this opportunity. I'm truly thankful for the Delta Regional Authority commitment to support community leaders."

Lampkin also co-founded CapWay, a financial technology company, and he serves as the outreach coordinator for the Mississippi Humanities Council.

The class includes six members from Alabama, seven from Arkansas, six from Illinois, two from Kentucky, four from Louisiana, four from Mississippi, six from Missouri and six from Tennessee.

Since 2005, the Delta Leadership Institute has worked to strengthen the knowledge and skills of community leaders across the Delta by broadening their understanding of regional issues and building a corps of alumni who have a regional and national perspective. It is a program of the Delta Regional Authority in partnership with three institutions of higher education: the University of Alabama, Arkansas State University and the University of Louisiana Monroe.