Graduate Assistant, Office of Leadership & Learning

I have served as a Graduate Assistant in the Office of Leadership & Learning since the Spring 2021 semester. In this role, I help to support programs and initiatives overseen by the Assistant Director of Service-Learning. Primarily, I have been involved in supporting the Monarch Pantry, a food pantry on campus available to all ODU students and staff. This has involved overseeing Pantry operations, collecting and analyzing data, collaborating with other University pantries, and pursuing additional funding opportunities. Because I have a strong professional interest in addressing food insecurity, my role in the Office of Leadership & Learning has been extremely rewarding. I have been able to gain experience with program planning and implementation, working with vulnerable populations, volunteer coordination, data collection and analysis, and public speaking. Much of the work I do with the Monarch Pantry aligns with information I have learned in the classroom and allows me to apply the knowledge I have gained to a real world problem. I have also connected the work I am doing in the Pantry to my APE and capstone project and will be developing and administering a survey to learn more about the impact of the Monarch Pantry on student shoppers.

Vice President, Public Health Student Association (PHSA)

As the PHSA Vice President, I am responsible for many aspects that ensure the successful functioning of the organization. Primarily, I provide support to the PHSA President and assist with any tasks that they need help with or are unavailable/unable to do. This includes providing guidance to the other PHSA Officers, contributing to our social media pages, and assisting with the organization and implementation of events. Specifically, I am responsible for the monthly Public Health Talks organized by the PHSA. These virtual events include securing a Public Health professional to speak to the greater ODU community about a topic of interest. The Public Health Talks provide an opportunity for greater connection and collaboration among students, faculty, and professionals. From my position as PHSA Vice President, I have learned task management skills as well as how to effectively delegate work. I have also gained experience with professional communication through close work with faculty and professional community members. My involvement with the PHSA has allowed me to connect more with my peers as well as professors and to apply what I have learned in the classroom to our events and outreach efforts.

ODU Group Fitness Instructor, Barre

In my role as a group fitness instructor, I lead groups of ODU community members through Barre classes. My primarily goal as a fitness instructor is to provide a safe and welcoming space for all participants to move their bodies in a health-promoting way. I want everyone that takes one of my class to leave feeling accomplished, with a smile on their face, and little stronger than when they entered. I have gained many skills through leading Barre classes including public speaking, time management, adaptability, and how to successfully work with diverse group of individuals. I aim to lead by example and provide a positive atmosphere to encourage participants to adopt more physical activity in their lives, hopefully leading to overall improved health.