Class of 2025, Psychology, minor in Spanish and Pre-Law
Hometown | Clinton, MA
Campus Involvement | Student Senate, Tour Guide, Presidential Student Ambassador, Honors Program

Lilian Sydow, SGA President

Can you describe the role of the SGA President? What do they do for the student body?
Two of the SGA President’s main roles are to run weekly Senate meetings in an orderly fashion, and to connect students with administrators and faculty who can assist them in their academic journeys. Within the student body, the SGA President is responsible for making sure the needs of the students are heard by administration, and not just their personal needs.

What are some goals you hope to accomplish while in this position?
While in this position, I hope to bring more awareness to what decisions are being made and what is going on around campus. I was unaware of so many decisions being made at the administrative level before joining SGA, and my ultimate goal is to provide everyone with the same access to the information as other members and I have.

What are some of the challenges you could face in this position?
Worcester State is an extremely diverse campus, and every student here is unique. That being said, it may be difficult to satisfy everyone when advocating for what the majority of students want. Also, relating to my main goal, it may be difficult to give all students the same access to information because not everyone uses the same methods of communication.

What do you hope your fellow students remember about you?
I hope they remember my work ethic and my determination to help them be heard in all areas  around campus. I also hope students will remember my approachability. My job is to listen to  students and express their opinions, and I can’t effectively do that if I’m not approachable to them!

What advice would you give to students just beginning to explore the type of leader they hope to become?My biggest piece of advice: Don’t sell yourself short. You can’t reach your full potential if you aren’t reaching for it, and you’ll never know what you are capable of if you don’t try your best. It can be difficult at times, and it might feel like a lot on your plate, but growth isn’t always comfortable! It’s a bit clichĂ©, but if you struggle or don’t succeed the first time, TRY AGAIN! Worcester State is filled with people who want to help you succeed, and they are all so supportive! Never be afraid to reach out for help!

What are your current plans for the next few years?
After graduating from Worcester State, I am planning to go to law school. I’m hoping to pursue civil law, specializing in either family or immigration law!

The post Meet Lilian Sydow, SGA President appeared first on Campus Life.

Abby St. Martin

How did you get involved in campus life? What advice would you give to students who haven’t yet found their place on campus?
I first got involved with campus life by going to the Club Kickoff outside the Student Center. This gave me the opportunity to explore all the different areas in which I could get involved. Having the chance to talk to current students allowed me to ask questions and find my passion. If you haven’t found your “people/place” on campus, continue to join other clubs or organizations because you never know where your passion lies until you try it.

How do you think you’ve changed as a leader throughout your time at WSU, and what aspects of your experience most influenced this change?
Being heavily involved as a leader on campus allowed me to grow in many different aspects. Through being a captain of the , I learned how to better communicate and work as a team. As an Orientation Leader, I grew my public speaking skills and collaborated with many different students. These are just a few examples of how my leadership grew throughout my time at WSU. Collaborating with my peers and team leaders significantly shaped my leadership style by teaching me the value of active listening, open communication, and diverse perspectives. Through teamwork and mentorship, I learned to delegate effectively, adapt to changes, and foster a positive, inclusive environment. These experiences helped me develop a more empathetic and collaborative leadership approach.

What is the biggest lesson you have learned when it comes to leadership?
The biggest lesson I have learned when it comes to leadership is the importance of adaptability and active listening. Being open to feedback and different perspectives has helped me make more informed decisions and better support my team/organizations/clubs. I’ve realized that effective leadership is not just about guiding others but also about fostering collaboration and continuous learning. 

What would you say has been your best experience here at WSU?
It is hard for me to pick a singular experience at WSU. I have found that one experience has led me to another experience that I have taken the opportunity to be a part of. Coming in as a freshman playing basketball was the beginning of my entire involvement at WSU. Having teammates and coaches encouraging me to try new opportunities gave me the confidence to join other leadership positions on campus.

What advice would you give to students who are just beginning to explore the type of leader, or the type of person, they hope to become?
My advice to students who are just beginning to explore the type of leader they hope to become is that you have to be willing to step outside of your comfort zone and try new experiences. Take every opportunity as a way to explore how you want to collaborate with others, listen to diverse perspectives, and learn from successes and failures/challenges. However, it is important to lead how you feel most comfortable and be authentic to yourself. Everyone leads differently so do not compare.

What are your current plans for the next few years?
After graduation in May, I intend to go to another university for an accelerated nursing program which takes about 16 months to complete. After completing that I plan on becoming a travel nurse and begin my healthcare journey!

The post Student Spotlight | Abby St. Martin appeared first on Campus Life.

How did you get involved in campus life? What advice would you give to students who haven’t yet found their place on campus?
COVID is a big reason for my involvement on campus. Online resources are what helped me to get to know my campus more! The more I learned about my campus, the more I realized about the opportunities it offers and that a student cannot only be studying but also be involved and develop their leadership skills as well as many others.

If I have to give advice to other students, I will say be open minded and always be willing to get out of your comfort zone. Surround yourself with people who will help you reach your goals and encourage you (family, friends, professors, campus resources, etc.)

How do you think you’ve changed as a leader throughout your time at WSU, and what aspects of your experience most influenced this change?
My leadership skills improved with time. As a leader, I learned how to be humble and listen to others (my co-workers). Being a leader is not just about giving orders and being on top of people, but showing the example and being that person others can rely on and trust. WSU taught me how to be responsible and helped develop my skills (communication, problem solving, leadership, etc.)

What is the biggest lesson you have learned when it comes to leadership?
One thing that I learned about leadership is that everyone can help you learn something new. As a leader, it’s not about me knowing everything but also being open minded and learning from others, being receptive to feedback and improving myself everyday. I learned that a good leader motivates others to be great and shows them the example to follow!

What would you say has been your best experience here at WSU?
My best experience was meeting great people who helped me become the person I am today. Being involved on campus (RA, PSA, OL, etc.) was the best decision I could have ever made in my life because today I have developed skills that I never thought I had, and feel ready to embrace the professional world.

What advice would you give to students who are just beginning to explore the type of leader, or the type of person, they hope to become?
I would say be yourself and don’t hesitate to step out and take a leap of faith. It may seem scary at first but once you’ve found the right people and get out of your comfort zone, be willing to give it a try, you’ll realize that it was worth it.

What are your current plans for the next few years?
My plans after graduating  are to work as a Data Analyst in order to develop my skills even more, and then go back to school for my masters degree in Data Science to become a Data Scientist. My dream is to be part of the Amazon data team. 

The post Student Spotlight | Gracia Kitenge appeared first on Campus Life.

Kimberly-Ann Lang at CAB’s Trunk or Treat event.

How did you get involved in campus life? What advice would you give to students who haven’t yet found their “people/place” on campus?
So funny story, I was very uninvolved when I first came to WSU. I am a commuter student so I would go to class and go home afterwards. When COVID hit I was more involved; I wish I did it sooner. The Commuter Activities Board (CAB) was the first club I joined. I barely went to the meetings in the beginning but went to them more frequently towards the end of my freshman year. I became the Treasurer and the rest is history. I would say that CAB led me to do more and explore different opportunities. Now, many say I am a bit too involved for my own good.

For those you have not found their people/place on campus, I would say not to worry. This thing takes time. If an introverted commuter can find her place on this campus you can too. I would say be proactive. Put yourself out there and get out of your comfort zone. I came from a school where I knew everyone for seven years before I came to college. I was very rusty when it came to finding my place again. Go to events like Club Kick Off or socials to help connect yourself with people. These events always have free stuff so why say no to free things and friends. On my laptop I have a sticker that says, “Your vibe attracts your tribe.” You will find your place and your people, you just need to go on an adventure.

How do you think you’ve changed as a leader throughout your time at WSU, and what aspects of your experience most influenced this change?
I am definitely more confident and vocal. I am an introverted person and saw myself as more of a follower than a leader. When I became a Treasurer, that’s when I started finding my voice and it led to more leadership opportunities. My confidence grew more as I led more. I learned from my mistakes as well as discovered what works for me as a leader. I also met many great people who helped me shape the type of leader that I am today! Leading takes time and practice. The more you do it, the better you become at it. Freshman me would barely recognize senior me.

What is the biggest lesson you have learned when it comes to leadership?
The biggest lesson I have learned from leadership is that there is no one way of leading. Even if you know your leadership style, you are constantly adjusting it to best fit the group you are leading. I’ve led many groups. While the foundation of how I lead remains the same throughout the groups, the way I lead changes based on the group I’m working with. Flexibility is always your bestie. A good leader learns and keeps learning. Biggest advice I would give to new leaders is to listen to your team. You can’t become better unless you get feedback. Feedback is not there to hurt you rather to make you better even if it hurts in the moment.

What would you say has been your best experience here at WSU?
It’s hard to say what my best experience has been at WSU. I’ve had so many to even count. I would say becoming a president of the Commuter Activities Board, creating a successful event from scratch with Presidential Student Ambassadors, and being part of a panel to help end hunger on college campuses have been top 3 experiences I’ve had at WSU. There are so many that I have not mentioned and there are still more to happen.

What advice would you give to students who are just beginning to explore the type of leader, or the type of person, they hope to become?
The biggest advice I can give to those who are exploring the type of leader or person they want to become is don’t be afraid. Fear is one of the biggest things that hinders us from reaching our full potential. I have always been afraid to make mistakes. However, I quickly learned that making mistakes helps me learn and helps shape me into the person I want to be. Being out of your comfort zone is always scary but getting out of it will help you grow. Not everything you try will be a success, but it will always teach you something new.

What are your current plans for the next few years?
Being a senior means I have to start thinking about getting a big boi job. My plan is to graduate and pass my NCLEX. Then I plan to work as an ICU nurse somewhere around Massachusetts and eventually join the Navy Nurse Corps as an ICU nurse. After that, I plan to go back to school and become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. During that time, I plan to travel anywhere my wallet will let me and volunteer around my community/hometown. But most importantly, I plan to live my best life, whatever that entails.

The post Student Spotlight | Kimberly-Ann Lang appeared first on Campus Life.

Presidential Student Ambassadors serve as student representatives of the University at on- and off-campus events in a professional manner. They also represent the student body in the surrounding community and participate in community-services projects.

The PSA position provides a great opportunity for students network with University and community leaders, enhance their professional and social skills, and have fun working with other talented student leaders. PSAs will be trained within the following areas:

• Professionalism
• Etiquette
• Leadership
• Philanthropy
• Public Relations
• WSU history and current University priorities

Hear from current PSAs!

During my time as a Presidential Student Ambassador, I have made meaningful connections as well as lasting friendships. I have been able to represent Worcester State at local events within the community as well as work for the President’s Office at events on campus. In addition to that, I have also been able to grow within myself as an individual. Through team-building and personal growth exercises I have been able to learn more about who I am and what it means to be a leader. My favorite part about being a PSA would have to be learning new skills surrounded by an extremely supportive team of students and staff. The Presidential Student Ambassadors is an amazing opportunity and I encourage all students to check it out!

Emma Polak

“I am a first-year PSA and this role has helped to increase my confidence in my leadership abilities while working with like-minded individuals who push me to be the best version of myself. I took this opportunity as a way to challenge myself and it has certainly paid off.”

Lizbeth Alcantara-Ruiz

This is a paid position. You can learn more about the duties of Presidential Student Ambassadors, including position goals and eligibility requirements, on their website. Applications are due March 1.

The post Leadership Opportunity: Presidential Student Ambassador appeared first on Campus Life.

Class of 2022, Visual & Performing Arts and Communication, Honors Program
Hometown | Worcester, MA
Campus Involvement | Presidential Student Ambassador, Chabad on Campus, Delta Alpha Pi, Alpha Mu Gamma, 2022 Class Committee, Lambda Pi Eta, Omicron Delta Kappa, VPA Stage Manager
Community Involvement | Rest home volunteer, Sunday school teacher, New England Campus Coordinator

Can you describe the role of the SGA President? What do they do for the student body?
The role of the SGA President is to be the representative of the student body. It is a position that advocates for students at all levels of the University and ensures that the voice of the students is heard, whether by representing our student body or uplifting student voices.

In that capacity, my role involves reaching out to students to keep updated on what is happening around campus. I want to hear from students what are the issues affecting our student body and work together to solve them. Because of that, the SGA President is a role that relies heavily on relationships with undergraduate matriculated students throughout our various areas on campus. 

As much as I listen, I also need to keep students informed on what is going on so my fellow students remain an informed public. One of the best ways to stay informed on our campus is by being involved. The SGA President is the person who connects students to involvement opportunities on campus, such as appointments to University governance committees and the Student Senate.

What are some of the goals you hope to accomplish while in this position?
I am extremely excited for what I know is going to be an amazing year. As SGA President, my role is to listen to my fellow students and ensure that the voice of the students is heard. 

To that end, it is my goal this year that any undergraduate matriculated student who wants to get involved on campus has the opportunity to do so. In order to get involved, my fellow students need to know what options are available for them, so my goal is to keep open, transparent lines of communication with our entire student body. I am here to be a resource for my fellow students so we can make our campus community the best it can be.

Equity is embedded within all of my goals. Equity encompasses everything and is as important to me as it is to our University. As such, it will reflect in the people I appoint, the positions I create, and the way I communicate. I have already started working with students, staff, and faculty to ensure equity in all things and would appreciate students reaching out to me at sga@worcester.edu so they can share with me their feedback.

What do your foresee as some of the challenges you could face in this position?
It’s been a difficult time for everyone because of the COVID-19 pandemic. I also recognize that although we have all been in the same storm, we have not all had the same boat. Thanks to vaccination rates, we are incredibly lucky that we get to have an increased presence on campus compared to last semester, but there is a significant percentage of our student body who are still incredibly negatively impacted by the pandemic, whether they have lost family, are at higher risk themselves or live with/care for someone who is higher risk, or were negatively impacted financially. I also recognize that we are still living in uncertain times particularly because of the surge in the Delta variant. I am aware that these challenges will impact our entire year, yet I am confident that our WSU community will resiliently overcome these challenges to become strong, dedicated leaders who support not only our campus community but also their own communities.

At the end of the year, looking back, what do you hope your fellow students remember about you?
At the end of the year, I hope that I am able to instill within my fellow students the inspiration the two previous SGA Presidents instilled in me to get involved on campus. I am working to ensure that every student who wants to get involved will have that opportunity and I hope our student leaders inspire future student leaders to stand up for what they believe in. I hope that our student leaders continue their leadership journey both here at WSU and after graduation. Most importantly, I hope my fellow students understand how important their voices are and are inspired to use their voice to enact the change they wish to see in our community and in our world.

What advice would you give to students who want to make an impact on Worcester State?
I would advise students to reach out! As SGA President, I am always here for you so please email sga@worcester.edu anytime with questions about how to start getting involved on campus or help finding the right leadership opportunity for you. Comments, concerns, and feedback about issues on campus are also always welcome. Your voice matters! As SGA President, I am here to be your resource.

What are your current plans for after graduation?
I will transition from part time to being the full time New England Campus Coordinator for upon graduation, which will allow me an amazing opportunity to expand my support of the New England community. I will also be continuing my studies for my MS in Communication at Clark University. 

While I am sad to be reaching the end of my journey here at WSU, I am so thankful for the skills and experiences I have had here and will always cherish my years here. I plan to remain involved with WSU so that I can continue supporting our amazing campus that has given me so much.

The post Meet Karen Shalev, SGA President appeared first on Campus Life.

How do you think you’ve changed as a leader throughout your time at WSU, and what aspects of your experience most influenced this change?
I believe as a leader I am always growing no matter where I am, but since coming to WSU my different leadership roles have helped me become a more mature leader.  Working on different projects as a leader allowed me to be open and willing to learn and hear from others. To me, being a leader is all about building a relationship where you can understand your teammate and they can understand you; we all have different personalities and different skill sets that make us who we are. As a leader I learnt to always be open to learning from others while trying new ways to become a better leader.

What is the biggest lesson you have learned when it comes to leadership? 
The biggest lesson I have learned as a leader is that leaders are followers. For me to be able to lead and lead effectively I must first be open and willing to follow and learn for others,  because that is the only way I can grow as a leader.  My grandma is a very good baker and decorator so she does a lot of wedding catering and decorations, but when she is hired to decorate and someone else is hired to cater she listens to the other person and learn from them instated of saying “I can do this” or “I can do it better,” she is always open minded to trying out the other persons way of doing things . So I learned from her how to be a better follower so I can be a better leader.

We really want to highlight the intersection of identity, culture, and leadership development. Can you share how your identity has shaped your leadership style throughout the years?
As a Black woman, not many opportunities are handed to me and I don’t always get to be seated  at the decision making table, so I always have to work twice as hard then my white counterpart to be afforded an opportunity. So as a leader I am constantly  working hard to make sure I am leading the right way and by example so that other Black girls out there can see me as their representation and know what they can  be and do what they set their mind to do regardless of societal barriers.  As a leader, I want other Black girls to see me advocating and know that they can also use their voice for change.  As a leader I am constantly looking for a new way to highlight who I am and my identity to give others  the power to be themselves and strive for more with confidence.

What would you say has been your best experience here at WSU?
My best experience at Worcester State was hosting the Multicultural Fashion Show for Third World Alliance, and putting together a photo shoot called “A Different Shade of Black.” The portraits  from the shoot showed  Black hair, Black identity and Black fashion.  These were my best experiences because these tasks allowed us to showcase the beauty in multiculturalism and  showcase the beauty in being different and also functioned as a way to help change  the narrative of how Brown and Black people are seen in our communities.

What was your most meaningful experience while at WSU?
My most meaningful experience at WSU has been finding a major that speaks to me and my abilities and one that fits the person I am  perfectly. The experiences I have had in my class learning and doing what I enjoy the most has been the most meaningful.

What has been your biggest accomplishment since beginning your journey at WSU?
My biggest accomplishment is getting to serve my fellow students and advocating for them any way I can. Using my voice to advocate for things students are facing and see change happen is one of my greatest accomplishments.

What advice would you give to students who are just beginning to explore the type of leader, or the type of person, they hope to become?
I will say to those people or to that person to believe in themselves,  it is first step in believing you can do and be whatever you set your  mind to, then go on to love and appreciate yourself because that builds up your confidence. And above all don’t be afraid to be yourself while learning from other  and listening to others.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your leadership journey?
After undergrad I plan to go to law school; I hope to serve the youth in our communities that have been under served by the justice system. I believe that our justice system is broken and a lot of young Black youth has been victims of this failed system. My goal is to become a defense attorney to help bring justice to people that have been denied justice by the system.

The post Student Spotlight | Anna Johnson appeared first on Campus Life.