The seeds of public service
A 1984 graduate, Jonathan Reckford has devoted his career to helping others as the CEO of Habitat for Humanity. As more than 6,000 graduates prepare to launch into new careers, he shares his personal journey to success.
Jonathan Reckford’s career has been about giving back.
It’s a mission that he credits, in part, to his time at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“The seeds of public service were planted by family members and role models, but they were clearly watered and nurtured in my time at Carolina,” said Reckford, now the CEO of Habitat for Humanity International.
This weekend, Reckford will return to the campus that developed his passion for public service to deliver the Commencement address to more than 6,000 graduating Tar Heels.
As the graduates prepare for their new adventures, Reckford will reflect on his own career and the journey that led him to lead an organization that is working toward a world where everyone has a place to live.
“Whether you work for a business, whether you work for a nonprofit, whether you work for the government, the key is finding a mission or a cause, or a problem that you really want to solve, and figuring out how to make a contribution,” he said.
