2011GLIE

Spotlight

Greek, Leadership and Intercultural Education Office of the Dean of Students | Division of Student Affairs | The University of Texas at Austin

www.texasgreeks.com

Each year with the GLIE Spotlight, Greek, Leadership and Intercultural Education honors outstanding students involved with the programs and opportunities the area provides.

The students featured are active in the UT Austin sorority and fraternity community, the Leadership and Ethics Institute and the Intergroup Dialogue Program.

Students are spotlighted for their outstanding community service, achievement, involvement and leadership.

Spotlight (SL): What’s your favorite quote?

Tiffany Chen (TC): “So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they’re busy doing things they think are important. This is because they’re chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” —Mitch Albom

SL: Describe an accomplishment that you are proud of and explain why. TC: An accomplishment I am very proud of is helping the MGC win a philanthropic donation from Google.

Our council won $1,500 and we donated to our philanthropy, River City Youth Foundation. We worked really hard as a team and it felt incredible. We are a new council, so the donation gave me confidence and energy to work on other incredible ideas for our community. We wouldn’t have won this competition without the help of our members.

SL: Describe one of your fondest memories from your role as a student leader. TC: One of my fondest memories is working with an incredible executive board council and my advisor during

this summer. I cannot believe we got so many things accomplished before fall semester began. I was able to understand know about our goals and what we can improve on. In addition, serving as president of MGC really made me who I am today and I truly love meeting different leaders from The University of Texas at Austin sorority and fraternity community and it made me more aware of the community.

SL: What is a challenge that you’ve faced in a leadership role and how did you overcome it?

TC: One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is effective communication. Everyone expresses their opinions differently. Some people are quick to express their opinion, while others need time to think and then express their opinion. What I try to do is improve communication by asking people individually about how they feel about a topic, typically in person. Plus, I love one-on-one time because it gives me a better idea of who they are and what they like or dislike. Because of that I’ve been able to understand how to improve communication.

SL: If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only have one item, what would it be and why?

TC: A friend because I’d have someone to keep me company, make me laugh and just make everything more enjoyable.

Be yourself. Build trust. It’ll lead to many great

opportunities and memories.

Senior, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Chinese, East Asian Studies

Multicultural Greek Council, Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority

Tiffany Chen

Spotlight (SL): What’s your favorite quote that gets you motivated?Lindsey Silber (LS): “This is your world; shape it or someone else will.”

SL: What advice do you have for other students in leadership positions?LS: I’d want to offer three points of advice. The first is to bring a positive attitude to your leadership position;

it can go a long way. The second is about details. You can never be too detailed or too thorough. Lastly, be approachable and genuine. When members need assistance, give it. You’ll find that when you need help with something, you won’t have to go far to ask.

SL: In what ways do you strive to inspire others?LS: I strive to inspire others by living my values and maintaining a positive attitude.

SL: Describe one of your fondest memories from your role as a student leader.LS: One of my fondest memories as a student leader is when the BrightPink founder, Lindsay Avner, came to

campus to speak. BrightPink, for those that don’t know, is a nonprofit organization that focuses on provid-ing education and support to young women who are at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer. Not only is the cause of cancer something that is very important to me, but being able to reach college women about the topic is important. Her presence on campus and ability to educate women about the issues was very fulfilling. We all need to increase our own awareness of health issues.

SL: Is time management easy for you?LS: Time management takes a lot of work. I try to remember that what we find important, we make time for.

SL: What is a challenge that you’ve faced in a leadership role and how did you overcome it?LS: A big challenge for sorority women revolves around overcoming stereotypes, specifically the “sorority girl”

image. As a leader, I overcome it by living up to the standards and values of my organization. I focus on what’s important for the organization and council, such as philanthropy activities, understanding commu-nity, and making sure above all else, our academic priorities come first.

SL: Plaid or stripes?LS: Stripes.Focus on what’s

important.

Senior, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

University Panhellenic Council,Alpha Epsilon Phi

Lindsey Silber

Spotlight (SL): What’s one misconception about leadership?

Priscilla Pelli (PP): One misconception: leadership comes easy. Leadership is a result of hard work, effort, and the determination to build excellence. To earn trust, to exert a positive influence and to unify others to form a common vision for the advancement of society takes time, integrity and commitment. Leadership isn’t commanded.

SL: Is there a recent accomplishment that you are proud of?PP: One of my biggest accomplishments was working on “Leadership Conference 2011: Bound By Choice,

Together Through Vision, Building a Community of Leaders.” It was the first official day-long conference organized by the Leadership and Ethics Institute. Sam Copeland and I were co-chairs. We organized and hosted it in February as part of our involvement in LEI. The committee wanted to build upon a past event, create a impactful leadership experience, and unify the student community.

SL: Describe one of your fondest memories from your role as a student leader. PP: One of my fondest memories is with the Leadership Education and Progress program. I was a mentor in

LEAP. It was the end of my sophomore year. I remember this particular day vividly because I was exhausted from work, school, and other organizational involvements plus I scheduled time to meet with my mentee. We had a quick bite to eat. After about an hour, I had to run to another commitment. I felt horrible. I felt like an hour was not enough and I was being a terrible role model. To my surprise, I received a text about 5 minutes after the meeting. The message expressed how grateful she was to have me as her mentor. I was so surprised. One small text of about 150 characters was motivation enough to do what I do.

SL: If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only have one item, what would it be and why?

PP: If I were stranded on an island, I would definitely want to have a picture of my family. My family is a very important part of my life. Without them, I wouldn’t be who I am today. They are my biggest fans and I don’t know what I would do without all their love and support to keep me motivated and determined to be the best I can be.

SL: Is time management easy for you?PP: Time management is a challenge. Over time, you learn to prioritize and organize. An agenda is what saved

my life in the long run!

The best way to find

yourself is to lose yourself in the service

of others.

Senior, Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Journalism

Leadership and Ethics Institute

Priscilla Pelli

Spotlight (SL): What’s your favorite quote that gets you motivated?Sam Copeland (SC): “Continuous effort — not strength or intelligence — is the key to unlocking our poten-

tial.” —Winston Churchill

SL: In what ways do you strive to inspire others?SC: I try to always put forth my best effort. Not just in terms of the actual responsibilities, but also with respect

to exemplifying how a leader is to act and carry themselves in an organization. I don’t think any great act or accomplishment can necessarily be all that inspiring by itself, but it is more the tone and culture that is es-tablished by a leader that can really affect how others act and lead, both now and in the future. Leadership sets the tone for how effectively the organization conducts itself, perceives its role and goals, and executes plans. So, inspiration can be found in consistent demonstrations of leadership and exemplary behavior.

SL: Describe a recent accomplishment as part of your involvement on campus.SC: Last year, as a co-chair for the Campus and Community Outreach Committee for LEI, I helped to create and

facilitate the first ever Leadership Conference for the Leadership and Ethics Institute. It involved planning, logistics for up to 100 people, bringing in 10 different speakers from the UT and Austin community, and making sure the conference ran smoothly on the actual day of the event. I am very proud because I had never before planned a completely new event on this scale nor collaborated with so many individuals. LEI gave me a rare opportunity to do something completely new with a lot of leeway in how I actually made it happen. It was a great chance to grow and develop as a leader and, in turn, help other students develop.

SL: What is a challenge that you’ve faced in a leadership role and how did you overcome it?SC: As a committee member in another organization, I assisted in the creation of a document that aimed to

affect academic policies. Together the committee wrote a good document. However, the challenge came from incorporateing feedback from other students and other committees. The experience taught me the value of successful leadership. We met with and incorporated the changes different individuals wanted with our document, while simultaneously saving the core components of what we most cared about to create a document that benefited everyone. Ultimately it turned out to be the best all around product for everyone since it contained provisions everyone cared about while only requiring a little concession from everyone as well. The individuals we were to represent, all students, benefited the most and that is what leadership is about: benefiting those you are entrusted to lead.

SL: Facebook or Twitter?SC: Facebook.

Leadership is ultimately

a form of service.

Junior, Master’s in Professional Accounting, Buisness Honors Porgram

Leadership and Ethics Institute

Sam Copeland

Spotlight (SL): In what ways do you strive to inspire others?Katie Massey (KM): I think the best way to inspire is to recognize the potential in people. If you believe that

someone can be extraordinary, they tend to rise to the occasion.

SL: Describe one of your fondest memories from your role as a student leader.KM: My fondest memories come from the fantastic people I’ve met through my different leadership roles.

The dedication and hard work they display encourage me to set equally high standards and goals. I’ve been inspired by so many of them, especially their desire to change the world. The people will be the most unforgettable memory I take away from my experience at The University of Texas at Austin.

SL: What’s one misconception about leadership?KM: A big misconception is that leadership is about the leader. It’s actually quite the opposite. A leader should

always draw the attention away from themselves and toward the people they are serving, since the true power of the people is in the strength of the group.

SL: What advice on leadership do you have for other students?KM: Set expectations for yourself and meet them. Your success as a leader isn’t about how you measure up to

the person who filled the position before you, and it’s not about pleasing everyone. The best way to thrive as a student leader is to stay authentic to who you are, not who others wants you to be. Most importantly, put your whole heart into whatever leadership role you choose. Be selfless, honest, hard working, and humble. This positive attitude is contagious!

SL: What is a challenge that you’ve faced in a leadership role and how did you overcome it?

KM: One big challenge I’ve had to face in leadership is overcommitment. A big part of overcoming that has been learning to say ‘no’ to opportunities. There are endless possibilities on the Forty Acres, and most of them sound worthy, but at a certain point you can’t do everything thrown at you. At the beginning of each academic year I pick two organizations that I will dedicate my time outside of work and class to. By picking two main commitments, I leave myself a little wiggle room to get involved with other low commitment activities that I just can’t pass up.

SL: Plaid or stripes?KM: Polka dots.

Don’t let fear get in the way of achieving

what you want most.

Junior, Bachelor of Arts in Economics

Leadership and Ethics Institute

Katie Massey

Spotlight (SL): What is one piece of advice you would want to share with those stepping into a leadership role?

Jared Apilado (JA): I would advise aspiring leaders to learn to work with other individuals, especially those that disagree with you. I would say that working around disagreements is one of the best skills a leader can cultivate.

SL: What is a your favorite quote?

JA: "By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest." — Confucius

SL: Looking back on your experiences at UT, is there a particular experience that you’re most proud of?

JA: One accomplishment that I am proud of was working with Erica King, the former president of the Multicultural Greek Council, to help get the MGC sponsored by the GLIE office. Through our efforts and others who came before us, we were recognized as an official council. I am proud of this because it has opened doors that were previously unavailable to members of MGC.

SL: How do you strive to inspire those around you?

JA: I strive to inspire others by trying to live my life with passion and dedication. I have been inspired to do things by witnessing other people’s drive and desire to achieve their goals.

From the hard working single mom to the up-and-coming executive each individual has the capacity to inspire those around her or him by showing others how passionate and dedicated they are.

SL: What is your favorite meal?

JA: Palabok (Filipino dish made with seafood and noodles).

Jared Apilado Senior

Bachelor of Arts in Biology

2010–2011 Multicultural Greek Council President

Delta Alpha Omega Fraternity

Spotlight (SL): Do you have a favorite quote?

Vanessa (VL): “Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your...old nonsense.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

SL: What is one of your most significant accomplishments?

VL: An accomplishment that I am very proud of is getting the opportunity to be a facilitator for the Intergroup Dialogue course offered within Greek, Leadership and Intercultural Education. The student facilitator positions facilitate dialogue on a specific social justice topic with undergraduate students. The opportunity to work with students in a classroom setting as an undergraduate is a very rewarding experience! It gives you an entirely new perspective on what its like to be an instructor. At the same time, however, you are just as much the student because you learn from the students you are working with.

SL: What advice would you offer to student leaders on campus?

VL: My first piece of advice to other student leaders on campus would be to take advantage of the multiple resources offered at UT Austin. This campus is rich in catering to the diverse needs of its student population and we should take advantage of these different opportunities. My second piece of advice would be to take the time to get involved and learn about other communities asides from our own. This is a wonderful way in which to challenge ourselves to step outside of our comfort zones and rid ourselves of any preconceived notions of different communities. My third and last piece of advice is to always remember that you are a student leader, hence a student before a leader. My mentor is always sure to reiterate this very important piece of advice. As you become more increasingly involved on campus, it is very easy to lose track of our academic endeavours with

so many extracurricular activities surronding us. Therefore, finding a balance between both is essential.

SL: What is one of your fondest memories as a student leader?

VL: One of my fondest memories in my role as a student leader is getting the opportunity to become a member of the Greek community. Starting a new Greek organization on campus comes with different challenges but it is worth the end result. It teaches you about perseverance and how empowering it can be to see a goal being accomplished.

SL: Beach or snow?

VL: Beach.

Vanessa Leyva Senior

Bachelor of Arts, Mexican American Studies

Fall 2010 Intergroup Dialogue Facilitator

Sigma Iota Alpha Sorority

Spotlight (SL): Can you describe your approach to leadership?

Paige Trostel (PT): Leadership in any organization is a big responsibility, and anyone that holds a leadership position needs to make certain they are willing to devote the time and effort to that organization. As a leader you should have standards for yourself and for the office that you hold. You need to hold on to these standards, and not waiver in your decisions for the organization even though sometimes it can be difficult to do so. No matter how small or how large your position of leadership is, working to the best of your ability for the group is what is most important.

SL: What is one of your most significant accomplishments?

PT: Last spring I worked as the Greek Awards Ceremony Chair, and was very proud of its success. Last year we combined the Order of Omega Awards with the Hyperion Awards, and it really made the awards so much more successful. We were able to accommodate all Greek councils, invited many faculty members, and worked with the GLIE office. Our speaker, Lieutenant Colonel Robinson, was able to address all students and faculty members, and all of the award winners were well received. This awards ceremony was a lot of work, but it was well worth all of the work. I met and formed con-nections with many members of the Greek community. My time as the Awards Chair really prepared me for my continued involvement with GLIE as Order of Omega president.

SL: Is there a particular challenge you have faced as a leader that gave you a greater insight into the sorority and fraternity community?

PT: One challenge the Greek community faces is working and communicating with other Greek councils. Until I started working with Order of Omega I was not aware of all the work the Greek coun-

cils do. A constant challenge is making sure that as an all-Greek organization we are able to communicate and colaborate with all councils. We send our applications every semester to all of the Greek councils so that we can try and have as many members from all different councils as possible. Our awards ceremony aspires to reward members from sororities and fraternities in all the Greek councils.

SL: What is one of your fondest memories as a student leader?

PT: My experience in Order of Omega has given me many opportunities that I am so thankful for. My memories of working with the former Order of Omega officers and GLIE staff members has helped me tremendously with my current leadership position. I was forced to put myself out there when I wanted to get involved with Order of Omega, because I only knew one person who was in an officer position. I also have been able to meet many other students in the different Greek councils, and have been thoroughly educated on the work that all of the Greek councils do every day.

Paige Trostel Senior

Bachelor of Science in Applied Learning and Development — Early Childhood to 6th Generalist Certification with ESL

2010–2011 Order of Omega President

Alpha Delta Pi Sorority

Spotlight (SL): What advice would you offer to student leaders on campus?

Ross Mizell (RM): To be an effective leader, you have to stay organized, and when individuals have questions you must make sure you give them an answer. Organization is key because there are so many tasks that need to be completed and you must not forget about any of them. And in order to keep the members of the organization content, I found it very important to be get back to them with answers quickly.

SL: Do you have a favorite quote?

RM: “In the game of life someone always has to lose. To me, if life were fair, that someone would always be Oklahoma.” — Darrell K. Royal

SL: What is one accomplishment that you are most proud of during your IFC experi-ence?

RM: I believe the most significant contribution I have made to the UT campus is installing the Neighborhood Longhorn Program into the new member education program for the fraternities. All fraternities are required to participate and we have seen it as a bonding experience for the new members and we are also able to help the Austin community. We began planning for the program before I took office. I was still the Executive Director and this idea came up and we determined it was something we wanted to participate in. I am confident it will be a program that lasts and hopefully I was a part of the beginning of something that will become a permanent fixture of UT fraternity life for years to come.

SL: Can you tell me a bit about how you motivate and inspire those you work with?

RM: I try to inspire others by working along with them. I tried to make sure that as president, I wasn’t just delegating all the tasks. I wanted the members of my council to see that I was working just as hard as them and hopefully that reinforced the teamwork and our effectiveness as a council.

SL: How do you address poor participation or involvement?

RM: To counter this problem, I’d try to make sure that I’m offering enough opportunities for everyone to be involved and care. The more opportunities we offer them, the more they see the benefits of being involved and that is the result we are hoping for.

Ross Mizell Senior

Bachelor of Business Adminstration in Finance with a Minor in Government

2010 Interfraternity Council President

Delta Tau Delta Fraternity

Spotlight (SL): What do you want to share with future student leaders about leadership?

Christie Clark (CC): I would advise other student leaders to invest time in getting to know the people that they are leading. The best way to be a great leader is to know how to successfully serve the people under you. In my time as Panhellenic President, I learned the value of understanding and relating to my executive board members, delegates and individual chapters members. My first semester in office I met with every president of every sorority in UPC. I discussed with them my goals as president and asked them what they wanted to achieve in their own chapters. I wanted to stress to them that part of my job was to help them be successful in their jobs. After this, I felt that the presidents felt more comfortable with me and free to share their suggestions and opinions. As a leader, it is important to care about the people you are serving because without their support, it is impossible to do your job well.

SL: What is one of your proudest moments?

CC: I am extremely proud of Greek Grub. Before I even transitioned into the position of president, I knew I wanted to leave a legacy in the Greek Community. Originally, I wanted to start something similar to a Greek Week since UT doesn't have any events to celebrate Greek life. However, after lots of discussion with my advisor and other officers, we decided to host one large lunch event on campus in the spring. We invited all 6 councils to participate. We were able to give out over 600 lunches to Greeks in their letters. We also gave out 200 t-shirts to commemorate the event.

SL: What was one of the biggest challenges you faced as a leader?

CC: My biggest challenge was dealing with members that are feeling burned out. With the amount of work that our council does over the year, it is natural for members to become tired and ready to finish their term. In order to help this, I tried to be flexible with members. I also encouraged them to leave their legacy in our community and finish out their term strong. While this was an ongoing struggle, I feel that members were dedicated to their jobs and made large strides in our council.

SL: Pepsi or Coca-Cola?

CC: Coca-Cola...no question.

Christie Clark Senior

Bachelor of Science in Public Relations with a Business Foundations Certificate

2010–2011 University Panhellenic Council President

Alpha Delta Pi Sorority

Spotlight (SL): What advice on leadership would you offer to other student leaders?

Nathan Bunch (NB): Be yourself. The best thing about being a leader is that when you do your job right, you can create a great impact on countless fellow students. The more "yourself" you are the more honest the role model you will be to them.

SL: What is one of your most significant accomplishments?

NB: LPHC's inaugural Latino Heritage Week represented the first big step by the council to celebrate our identity in a way that does not exclude the spectrum of identities in the community. After working for months with executive board and the other members of the council, we held a successful series of events that will inspire future leaders to carry on the tradition.

SL: Is there an experience that has resonated with you and impacted you as a student leader?

NB: One of my most impactful moments was when I attended the CHANGE Institute in the fall of 2008 and 2009. With other students and the GLIE staff I was able to learn a lot more about the area of social justice and diversity education, at least more than I had initially anticipated.

SL: How do you want to be remembered by your peers after you graduate?

NB: Believing in progress, inclusion and equity full heartedly.

SL: Do you have a favorite place to eat?

NB: Pluckers!

SL: Is there a quote that you live by?

NB: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." — Margaret Mead

Nathan Bunch Senior

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Mexican American Studies

2010–2011 Latino Pan-Hellenic Council President

Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity, Inc.

Spotlight (SL): What words of advice would you want to pass down about leadership?

Lebon James (LJ): Leadership is not an easy task and cannot be learned over night. It takes time and you must know the skills you are best at and the skills you are weak in to identify your leadership. You must also have an appreciation for the people you lead and know the skills they are good at. You cannot expect someone terrible at math to do calculus. So find everyone’s talent and use it to an advantage. Build not only work ethic with your team but also build a relationship.

SL: What is your fondest memory thus far in your UT career?

LJ: The CHANGE Institute, which involved discussions of social justice issues over a two- day period. It opened my mind to thinking about acting differently in certain situations, and how I would feel as the target group or the agent group. It was an experience I will always cherish and one that I had never experienced before at the university. While I wish the experience was longer, I still have the memories of the people I was with to cherish.

SL: Do you have a favorite quote?

LJ: “Delegating work works, provided the one delegating works too.” — Robert Half

SL: West coast or east coast?

LJ: West coast.

SL: What is the biggest challenge that you have faced in your leadership role?

LJ: The biggest challenge I have faced in my leadership roles is the dual presidency of my Greek council and my fraternity. I have to step back from certain situations and let my vice president take a role in deciding what is best in relation to fraternity matters.

Lebon James Senior

Bachelor of Arts in Ethnic Studies, Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies

2011–2012 National Pan-Hellenic Council President

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Spotlight (SL): Is there a particular moment that stands out from your time as a student leader?

Jackie Lee (JL): The feeling of relief and satisfaction after a successful event. I think it is moments like those that make all your hard work and efforts into a project all worthwhile. For instance, in the recent year I’ve worked to initiate and reorganize a new form of structure within our council. As a result, communication has been strengthened as our council’s leaders are working more cohesively and effectively among one another.

SL: What advice would you want to share with those that come after you?

JL: Good is the enemy of great, so don’t be afraid to challenge the status quo. To be a good leader, you need not only meet the expectations required of you, but also strive to actively better yourself and your followers by going beyond ordinary means. This means you’ll have to plan, speak up, work hard, take risks, and most importantly, follow through. Always think, “How can I make it better?”

SL: Can you explain your approach to leading?

JL: Lead by example. Make sure you stand for what you say, and that those words reflect in your actions. To hold a leadership position, sometimes you want to expect two times more from yourself than you expect from others. Others will take notice of that and work harder. Give people a reason to want to listen to you, or in other words, you’ve got to “walk the walk” if you’re going to “talk the talk.”

SL: What was one of your biggest challenges as a student leader and how did you approach it?

JL: The biggest challenge I’ve faced as a leader involved learning and knowing how to adapt to things I can’t control. In a perfect world, everything would go according to plan, but we don’t live in such a fantasy world, so we have to plan, be smart and do the best we can. I realized how important it is to be organized and always have a plan B, C or even D. As they say, “Failure to plan is planning to fail.”

SL: What is the ideal dinner?

JL: Anything home-cooked! I absolutely love home-cooked meals.

Jackie Lee Senior

Bachelor of Science in Advertising with a Minor in Business Foundations and Chinese

2010–2011Texas Asian Pan-Hellenic Council President

alpha Kappa Delta Phi Sorority, Inc.