Meet Courtney Dailey: Program Director of Clarendon City Scholars

Tell me about the Clarendon City Scholars program.

Clarendon engages students who have a passion for the city and prepares them to serve in a city. The program offers an annual scholarship, experiential learning trips and paid summer internships. As a cohort, our students learn about different cities and explore how to serve those areas well.

Together we pursue servant leadership and God’s call on our lives. Our students grow in love and heart for city issues. From that loving and growing, we find areas they can go and serve well. I’m actively looking for ways to connect our students with opportunities that touch their calling from God. If a student has a heart towards homelessness, what nonprofits support that need? How can I connect our scholars with that kind of opportunity? If a student has a heart towards law, what local nonprofits offer legal support? I also believe our program is about having a dual relationship. How can we connect our students to the issues important to them and at the same time serve city organizations and nonprofits.

How did God lead you to become the Director of Clarendon City Scholars?

The intentionality of God is very wild to think about! I think every small moment in life brought me right here. I went to a small Catholic university in San Antonio, so I’ve experienced what it looks like to be in a faith-based, smaller institution—growing in leadership while toiling with what faith is. My journey continued when I moved from Texas to Boston to work with City Year. I’ve since been involved in Greater Boston communities like Everett, Lawrence, Lynn and Brockton, and I’ve worked with community agencies to see what resources are out there and uncover the ways families in those areas need support.

In October 2024 I started working out at Gordon College’s Bennett Center, and that’s how I was introduced to Gordon. I talked to Greg Scruton and worked out with different students and community members. Little by little God showed me different opportunities. I began to see the heart of Gordon, and the passion the College has for community and caring for one another. Then when I was looking at the Director of Clarendon City Scholars application, I truly saw that it matched the intentionality God has given me.

How does your leadership style align with the values of the Clarendon program?

Clarendon has a principle called Ubuntu, which means “I am because you are.” I first learned of the principle in 2010 and realized that I thrive off the opportunity to help develop people. My leadership style is meeting each person where they’re at and helping them discover that little thing God is calling them to do right now. I see the greatness people have within them. When they’re struggling and when they’re searching, I understand and empathize from times I felt the same way. It’s not just their struggle, it’s our struggle. How can I walk alongside them?

What makes the Clarendon Scholars program at Gordon College unique?

Clarendon is more than just an honors program. It’s a community that students are connected with. I know the term “family” is used a lot. However, that is something I’ve really noticed about this group. We offer a space for students to be authentically themselves and grow in what God has called them to be and where he needs them to serve. Whenever the Clarendon cohort is together, it feels like a family reunion. It is an intentional connection.

At the same time, as God cultivates us, we’re called to cultivate our communities. We’re exploring how to take this family vibe and authenticity to the nonprofits, for-profits and community agencies out there. Building those relationships is what makes it really special.

How do you envision partnerships under your direction?

I aim to get Gordon closer to the city—specifically building connections within the Greater Boston area and its different communities and resources. We’re looking to find places that Gordon has not touched yet. For example, just this year we did community engagement days with Pine Street Inn, Habitat for Humanity, and Bread of Life. Those have all touched local, untapped territory. We’re also working to recognize where our Clarendon students come from—places like Hartford Scholars.

As we connect with these organizations, we’re exploring what we can offer them. Are there Clarendon City Scholar trainings that we could provide for their group’s high school students? It really looks like building relationships well—relationships that we are all growing from.

What message would you share with alumni, supporters and prospective partners about connecting with Clarendon?

I think every type of connection, whether it be through time, resources or financial support, is tied to the lives of our students’. There’s an alumnus by the name of Manny. He proudly names the Clarendon program as one of the launching points for him in his ministry journey. Today he is starting a church in Texas. He’s well-traveled, preaching from church to church. Investment in this program offers an opportunity to equip more people like Manny. It’s supporting a Gordon student’s future impact in this world.