Major: English
Year: Third Year
1. What would you consider your leadership style to be?
I’m a fairly compromising leader. I love things to be run efficiently and practically, but relationships and connecting with people is always my priority, so I love working with people to make sure everyone in a process feels fulfilled and valuable.
2. What are some of your current leadership/guidance involvements at the University of Virginia?
I’m a Resident Assistant in Woody [Dorms at UVa], I am the Chair of the Community Engagement Committee on Third Year Council, and I’m a Perkins Fellow with the Theological Horizons Institute, where I work with Abundant Life.
3. What motivated you to become a Resident Assistant? Is there a particular moment when this realization hit you?
There were a few RAs in my family growing up, so it was always on my radar even before I came to college. My first year, my hall quickly became my home at UVA, and my RA was absolutely incredible–she is still one of my best friends I’ve made at UVA. I still hang out with my hall regularly (we have reunions all the time), and I knew from the start that I would love to be part of building that community for first years, just like my RA had. I love forming relationships and getting to know people, and first year is such a fun time of growth and learning so much about yourself. It’s so fun to be a part of that again!
4. With regards to your Council experience: what impact do you hope to have and what are your goals as a representative of the class of 2018?
When I first came to UVA, I definitely fell in love quickly with the place, the people, the traditions, the academics–pretty much everything. But after a semester, I began to learn and become passionate about the ways that UVA is deeply flawed: the ways that it was founded in and continues to perpetuate systemic racism, the intentional exclusivity of many organizations and institutions, the cultures of comparison and competition, the often toxic relationship between UVA and the greater Charlottesville community, and the sense of privilege and entitlement that often pervades grounds. I love Council because I’ve found a place where other people are just as in love with UVA as I am, but are also just as passionate and committed to creating change as I am. The problems we face as UVA students are merely microcosms of greater issues in our society, and I think it’s important to start raising sensitivity towards these and other issues, and giving people avenues to equip themselves for doing the most good while we are still in college.
5. Do you consider that your gender has played a role on your eligibility for the leadership positions you mentioned above?
I think overall, I view my gender as an asset to my leadership capabilities because my leadership styles fit well with my personality, and I consider my gender a part of that. My mom is a lawyer in a corporate setting and often faced gender based discrimination, especially in the 80’s and 90’s when she was just getting started. Growing up, my mom was my biggest supporter, and equipped me with so many skills that I still use in leadership positions. But, she also was very realistic, and introduced me to the idea that leading could be harder for me as a female than for my male counterparts. I think following my mom’s example in the ways that she’s essentially super BA in almost everything she does has influenced my life a lot, particularly when it comes to leading.
6. What advice would you give young women at UVa and other colleges that are striving to obtain leadership positions within their community?
I think it’s important to lead in the way that feels most natural to you. We are all so different, and often leadership fails when we try to become something or someone that we’re not. I also think it’s really important to only strive for leadership positions that you’re truly passionate about–there’s no point in leading something if you don’t love it. I think passion and commitment from a leader is one of the surest ways to earn respect and buy-in of others.