- Name: Kayla Edwards
- Hometown: Hamden
- Major: Africana Studies Major
- Minor: Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
- Graduation Year: 2017
- Age: 21
Q: Haddiyyah Ali has nominated you as an Involved Woman on Campus that inspires her. Ali states that you do incredible work all over campus, what kinds of activities are you involved in?
KE: I am the President of Sisters Inspiring Sisters, an organization I am a co-founder of. I was on the first E-board for an organization called Sankofa, which originated as an Africana Studies club but has now branched out. I’m involved with Greek Life as a member of the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated. I am heavily involved with UConn’s National Pan-Hellenic Council, the council Sigma Gamma Rho is under. I am also a major mentor with The Major Experience and work in the African American Cultural Center. I volunteer with the Petey Green Prison Tutoring Program, and have been involved with on-campus fashion shows and cultural exhibitions.
Q: You are involved with activities that cover a wide range of topics like academics, cultural-based groups, and volunteer-based groups. Why have you chosen such a variety of activities?
KE: I choose the organizations I’m involved with because they match my personal mission. For academics, I chose The Major Experience because it allows me to introduce people to my studies who are weary of majoring in my discipline. Sankofa as an organization helps us bring people of my major together. For cultural-based, Sisters Inspiring Sisters serves my mission as an organization created to make space for Black women on campus. Greek life allowed me to have a larger platform from which to express my own views and further the mission of an organization that I love. For volunteering, the prison tutoring program allows me to serve an underserved, but very deserving, population.
Q: What is the most enjoyable part of being so involved for you?
KE: The most enjoyable part of being involved is getting to help and inspire other people. I believe I have a lot to say and I have a positive message, so I use my platforms to spread my message. I also get to meet new people, which allows me to hear and understand their viewpoints. Being involved has given me access to so many opportunities on campus. I have gained an innumerable amount of positive experiences from doing what I love.
Q: You work, are involved with a variety of activities, and are a full-time student. What do you do to maintain the student-leader-work balance? When you find time for yourself and what do you do to de-stress?
KE: The best de-stressor for me is sleep and to step or dance for fun. It isn’t my involvement that stresses or tires me out. Instead, I find myself fueled and invigorated by what I do and the people I meet.
Q: You interact with so many people within your communities. Who inspires you?
KE: I am inspired most by my Black female peers and the mentors I have gained in my college experience. Brittney Yancy, a fellow co-founder of Sisters Inspiring Sisters, has been a great mentor and friend since I met her. My biggest source of inspiration comes from Yancy and the women in our organization.
Q: What advice do you have for someone looking to get more involved on campus?
KE: Everyone should definitely be involved in some way, and if someone is looking to do it, I say go for it! It is important to not overdo it, but find things that you love and are passionate about. UConn has hundreds of organizations, the perfect club of you is out there. Being an involved student adds so much value to your life and time here as a student.
Q: You have chosen to nominate Odia Kane. Why have you chosen her?
KE: When thinking of women to nominate, I wish I could pick ten women, but I picked Odia Kane. Kane is a sophomore honors Cognitive Science major and Political Science minor. She has taken on leadership roles since her freshman year, and is a dynamic and intelligent woman the Her Campus and UConn communities should know.
Cover Image & photos courtesy of Kayla Edwards