Campbell University’s Public Health students recently joined community leaders from across Harnett County to participate in the Harnett’s Path Forward: Collaborative Leadership in Action Summit, a design sprint workshop focused on addressing one of the county’s most pressing challenges: rapid population growth. The session was led in part by Dr. David Tillman, chair of the Public Health program, alongside local partners working at the intersection of healthcare, education, business, and social services.
Harnett County is one of the fastest-growing counties in North Carolina, with a population that has increased more than 10 percent since 2020. This growth brings both opportunity and strain, especially for systems that support health, transportation, housing, and community well-being. The summit convened a diverse group of organizations and leaders to better understand these impacts and collaboratively generate solutions.
Public Health students played a key role in the design sprint, guiding small-group discussions, sharing data from the Community Health Needs Assessment, and helping translate community experiences into actionable ideas. Their involvement offered hands-on practice in facilitation, systems thinking, and relationship-building — central skills for public health professionals.
“Today demonstrated the power of collaboration in addressing the real issues affecting our community,” said Dr. Tillman. “Our students not only learn public health theory, they practice community-engaged leadership alongside the partners who shape health outcomes in this region.”
Participants worked together to frame the core problem, explore root causes, and develop short-term collaborative strategies that can be tested in early 2026. Leaders and student facilitators were challenged to develop strategies that require minimal funding, emphasize shared responsibility, and reflect the strengths already present within Harnett County.
The experience allowed students to contribute meaningfully to the county they serve, while also strengthening Campbell’s long-standing commitment to preparing graduates for purpose-driven community impact.
