Whether it’s getting involved with the student government or helping you out with homework, Alex Nowlin is one of the most well-known faces on campus. His dedication to Winthrop and shining personality are some of the many things that make him a respected role model amongst the student body.Â
Name:Â Alexander NowlinHometown:Â Bluffton, South CarolinaYear: JuniorMajor:Â Political Science/Legal Studies
What inspired you to run for student body VP?Winthrop has offered me so many opportunities and has provided me with numerous experiences that have truly helped me grow into the person that I am today. At the end of my sophomore year, I knew that it was time to give back to the university that has given so much to me. In the spring I saw the opportunity to run and I sought it out. I thought that this could be a huge way to serve Winthrop and my peers in the student body.
What do you and Ray hope/plan to accomplish this school year?One of the first things we want to accomplish is to assist President Mahony with his transition to Winthrop and help make it as smooth as possible. We also want to make sure that he is visible to the students. For example, President Mahony, Ray McKetty and I had lunch in Thomson last week with other students. We want to continue to make the Council of Student Leaders (CSL) more accessible to students and transparent about everything that is going on at Winthrop. For more information you’re going to have to come to a meeting though! I’d love to see you at our meetings on Mondays at 7pm in DiGs 114!
How did you become involved in CSL?I actually wasn’t a voting member of the Council until I became Vice-President. Prior to running, I had been to meetings here and there, but it wasn’t until the spring of this year that I started to take more of an active role.
Alex with Republican candidate Jeb Bush – Photo by Winthrop UniversityÂ
What other student organizations are you involved in on campus?I was a resident assistant my sophomore year and I’ve been a member of Kappa Sigma since the spring of 2014. I try to make it to as many student organization events as I can to see if there is something that the Council of Student Leaders can do assist in the success of other organizations.
Why did you choose Winthrop?Surprisingly enough, I didn’t choose Winthrop because of the academic program. Neither was I interested in class size or anything like that. I chose Winthrop because when I was touring the school I could see myself as a student here. I felt that I belonged here walking down scholars. After enrolling and choosing political science as my major, I found out how great the department, faculty and staff and classes truly are.
What’s your favorite thing about Winthrop?I love how outspoken the student body is. I love that when there is an act of injustice somewhere in the world, there is a program or assembly about it the following morning. I think that Winthrop provides students with plenty of opportunities to be active, contributing members of society.
What’s the one piece of advice you can give to the c/o 2019?Don’t be afraid of failure. Accept, evaluate it and learn from it. One of my favorite quotes is by J.K. Rowling. She said, “It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default.”
Do you have any interesting facts about yourself?This summer I visited four different countries: Cuba, Aruba, Curacao and Turks and Caicos.Â
What do you plan on doing after graduation?I plan on going to graduate school. I haven’t decided if I want to go to law school or work toward a Masters in international relations, but I definitely want to continue my education.
What does leadership mean to you?Leadership is service to others. It means having the ability to empower others to do and be more than they thought they could be. Leadership to me is putting the wants and needs of others before your own. Â