What did the scholarship allow you to do that you otherwise wouldn’t have done? 
Being a Lilly Scholar allowed me to leave my home county and go to school across the state. This was truly my first independent step out of my hometown, and it made me realize that I am capable of creating a new home for myself outside of my comfort zone. I think that without the Lilly Scholarship I wouldn’t have had the confidence to move to a new place completely on my own as a young adult.

What’s the last novel you read? 
I just finished reading A Fatal Inversion by Barbara Vine.

What motivated you to take on the role of president for your college chapter, and how has the experience impacted your personal and leadership development?
When I started attending IU, there was no formal LSN@IU chapter. When I was a Junior, I helped co-found that chapter at IU because I was really motivated to connect with the other Lilly Scholars on campus. I really wanted to help create a space for Lilly Scholars to foster connections with alumni, and help connect current scholars to the Bloomington community.

In what ways have you collaborated with other campus organizations or student groups to enhance the impact of your chapter?
I was mainly focused on working with administration to really get the chapter up and running!

Can you share an example of a successful event or initiative that the chapter has organized under your leadership?
When I graduated, we were in the process of planning an event to connect current Lilly Scholars with alumni in the state! This was one of my main missions when establishing the chapter, so it was exciting to see this in the early stages of planning.

In what ways do you collaborate with other student organizations or the college administration to enhance the impact of your chapter? 
I worked closely with IU administration to help establish a chapter at IU. This included establishing bylaws and appointing leadership roles to help get the chapter off the ground. 

How has being the president of the chapter contributed to your personal and professional growth, and what lessons have you learned from the experience? 
I would say that I learned a lot about the time and organization that is required to be an efficient leader. I had not been in charge of any collegiate organizations before LSN@IU, and it was definitely a learning experience on how dedicated you have to be towards your mission to be a good leader.

First posted 3/4/2024