Denison annually recognizes graduating seniors who have demonstrated exemplary leadership and service to the University through their involvement in student organizations, in co-curricular activities, on Denison’s staff, and as athletes and scholars. Nominations of deserving students are made by faculty, staff, and student peers. In selecting the recipients, we look for evidence of an enduring commitment to enhancing the quality of life in our community. The students we honor today have made a clear, noticeable and lasting impact on Denisonians’ lives through their leadership efforts.
B.A. Chemistry
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Pi Kappa Chapter President
- The National Pan-Hellenic Council, Community Service Chair
- Paving the Way Pre-Orientation, Co-Coordinator
Through your sustained commitment to the Paving the Way program, you have helped students succeed and grow at Denison.
As a past Paving the Way participant and while holding coveted roles such as ambassador and coordinator, you contributed your talents to strengthening this important onboarding experience for first-year students.
You called attention to the important role of rhetoric and how Denison’s oral history affects student persistence. You also have paid close attention to innovations that strengthen students’ sense of belonging to their new home on the hill.
Your nominators consider you to be a phenomenal leader, scholar and friend. You have been highly visible in campus life-orientation programs, cross-cultural engagement, Delta Sigma Theta, tutoring and service activities—while still maintaining an excellent academic record in the sciences, participating in three summer research experiences, and nurturing relationships with peers and faculty.
Others describe you as sincere, trustworthy, respected, and caring. Thank you for choosing to lead in formal roles as well as informal ones. You made a difference in many arenas of campus life during your four years here.
B.A. Sociology & Anthropology
- Office of Admission, Senior Interviewer
- Outlook, President, Chair of Gender Neutral Housing
- Diversity and Inclusion Group for Student Athletes
- (DIG), Co-Founder and President
- Sociology & Anthropology, Fellow
- August Orientation, Student Staff Co-Coordinator
Faculty, staff, and students describe you as a passionate, committed, and respected leader in the classroom, as the captain on the men’s swim/dive team, and as a community leader.
You have excelled as a leader in athletics, establishing an uncompromising standard for your own performance which served as a model of excellence for your teammates.
In the academic realm, your record is exemplary as well.
Your outstanding performance in those areas has lent credibility to your strong, passionate leadership for social change, especially with regard to diversity and inclusion at Denison. As the president of Outlook and a leader in the Diversity and Inclusion athlete group, you have striven to ensure that all students feel welcome at Denison.
You have taken visible steps to build a stronger community with diversity as a core value, nudging forward the culture of athletics and of the college more widely.
You have reason to be proud of your Denison legacy: Your actions and commitment to the community influenced your peers, but will also positively affect the lives of future Denisonians. You’re a champion in every way.
B.A. Psychology
- Black Student Union, Historian, Minister of Finance
- August and Mid-Year Transfer Student Orientation, Coor-dinator
- Drug and Alcohol Resource Team (DART), Member
- Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Volunteer
- CLIC, Campus Organizations Assistant
You have become a familiar face to everyone on campus through your vivacious personality and can-do attitude. Never one to shy away from a difficult task - or a conversation - your hard work and infectious energy set you apart as a leader at Denison.
As a transfer student to Denison, it wouldn’t have been surprising for you to take some time getting settled in; that was not the case! You’ve shown up everywhere: in the Black Student Union, as a student employee in the Campus Leadership and Involvement Center, and as the Transfer Student Coordinator in the First-Year Office for the past two years.
In each of these roles, your impact has not been bound by your title. You have used every position you’ve held as sort of a conversation-opener, bringing your signature warmth and curiosity and trustworthiness to knit members of our community more tightly together.
You’ll be missed from your daily hang-out spot in Slayter, and remembered by peers, faculty and staff for your smile and laughter, and for your deep commitment to making Denison a better place.
B.A. Philosophy, Political Science & Economics
- Leadership Fellows, Fellow
- Office of Admission, Senior Interviewer
- S.H.A.R.E., Advocate, On-Call Advocate
- Paving the Way Pre-Orientation, Mentor
- Academic Support & Enrichment, Tutor
When you arrived at Denison, you were frustrated to discover siloes that undermined community. And you reported your findings immediately, so that we could get to work on fixing them!
But over time you found, and we found as well, that the change-maker you were looking for was inside of you. You have become a hopeful, action- oriented leader focused on matters of social justice.
As an active member, and then moderator coordinator, of Sustained Dialogue, you helped our community take on difficult conversations about race, gender, sexual orientation and political difference.
As a homesteader, you modeled socio-environmental responsibility. As Restorative Justice coordinator, you helped us reframe the resolution of conflict.
And, in your role as a leadership fellow, you brought both joyful enthusiasm and incisive critique to revamping Signature, a leadership program based on embracing one’s personal identity, and to developing SpeakEasy, a program on empathic communication across difference.
You have modeled that leadership is a journey. In your own words, true positive “change occurs through the consistent efforts of many individuals working together as a movement.”
Thank you for listening deeply to others and helping them find their power to form that movement.
B.S. Biology
- Residential Education & Housing, Resident Assistant
- Big Brothers/Big Sisters, President
- Delta Delta Delta Women’s Fraternity
- Academic Development Chairman, New Member Educator
- Academic Support & Enrichment, Tutor
- Biology, Biosphere Tutor, Teaching Assistant
Your impact on the local community has been inspiring. As president of Big Brothers Big Sisters, you directed and managed over 200 volunteers and actively recruited more Denison students to become involved in the program.
Your spirit and consistency are noted as a driving force behind your peers’ decision to join the program. By increasing the number of volunteers, more area children have received extra attention, care, and mentorship.
In addition to helping this program to thrive on behalf of the “littles,” you also built a sense of community among the Denison “bigs,” establishing a volleyball tournament fundraiser and finding other opportunities to create a sense of connectedness among Denison student mentors.
One nominator writes that you inspire those around you with your genuine compassion and that you bring a sense of tranquility even to the most stressful of situations.
You hold yourself accountable for ensuring that all students have a positive experience. Anna, you are known for always thinking of ways to do something better—and you have been a model of leaving something better than you found it.
Thank you.
B.A. Human and Societal Development
- Residential Education & Housing, Head Resident,
- Resident Assistant
- Outlook, Education and Advocacy Coordinator
- Denison Campus Governance Association (DCGA),
- Community Senator
The hallmark of your impact has been your dedication towards others, and your striving for a more just world. This is demonstrated through your commitments in residential education as a head resident as well as in your leadership with Outlook.
You have displayed immense caring, understanding, and inclusion in your words and actions. Over the years, you have gently nudged your coworkers, classmates, and those around you toward inclusive language and you have modeled what it means to respect and cultivate empathy for those from other life experiences.
You have led inclusivity workshops during RA training and in our community demonstrating your passion for improving the lives and experiences of others. You worked to expand our gender-inclusive housing for underclassmen and to make campus facilities more inclusive and welcoming.
Emily, you truly care about the Denison experience and have worked to make the community better. You leave behind visible and palpable changes for the better.
Thank you.
B.A. Theatre
- Denison Independent Theatre Association (DITA), President
- June and Denison Art Orientations, Coordinator
- Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority Inc, Fundraising Chair
- Office of Admission, Senior Interviewer, Tour Guide
- Theta Alpha Phi Theatre Honorary Society, Vice President
You are somewhat famously the face of Denison, the smiling, strolling chronicler of life on the Hill, watched by thousands of prospective students and parents, and delighting your peers and everyone associated with the college. The film charmed us because you were so genuinely yourself — positive, light-hearted, warm, and authentic — and we were proud to see you representing the student body.
But many of us have also seen the rest of the story. We have seen you lead The Denison Independent Theatre Association with integrity, bringing key students together in moments of organizational challenge to problem solve. We’ve watched you provide encouragement and support to younger students as they took risks as performers, or as human beings, through the Arts Orientation and Ladies Night Out. You’ve been a masterful planner in successive roles in your sorority’s executive board. You’ve modeled being a leader who honors and elevates the team.
You have dazzled us on stage and as a performer throughout these fast four years. But you have also impressed us by modeling what it means to sit in the front row of your life and recognizing all the choices you can make about how it will go. We can’t wait to see your next act.
B.A. Communication
- Leadership Fellows, Fellow
- Humans of Denison, Creator
- Residential Education & Housing, Resident Assistant
- Panhellenic Council, Vice President for Development
- Kappa Kappa Gamma, Member
You bounded into Denison excited, but unsure of how to channel your enthusiasm and energy with our community. At LeaderShape during your first year, the importance of positive change, meaningful relationships and the power of personal storytelling became the hallmarks that would define your contributions to Denison.
As a founder of Humans of Denison, you used images and stories to build understanding and appreciation for the vibrancy of our campus community.
As a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and a Panhellenic Council leader, you created opportunities for sorority members to enjoy sisterhood and camaraderie around shared values.
As a D.U. Lead club advisor, resident assistant, and Leadershape coordinator, you helped others to find and frame their big ideas. You embraced design thinking and empathic interviewing to build a new program, YOU, that responds to dynamic student needs.
And, you were an amazing community member, attending dozens of recitals, plays and cultural events to celebrate the work of friends and to show support for the diversity of our campus community. The first to offer a hug or a high-five, your legacy will be the way you made everyone feel heard, seen, empowered and celebrated while at Denison.
Thank you.
B.S. Chemistry
- The Lisska Center, Fellow
- June and August Orientation, Leader
- University Council, Representative
- HOPE Kitchen, President
Jarrett, you write that you improved as a leader by developing the “insight to consistently make mindful decisions which promote the well-being of the entire community.”
During your time at Denison, you have mindfully sought opportunities to build community and mentor your peers. As both a June Orientation and August Orientation group leader, you have helped entering students transition successfully into the Denison community and your thoughtful, positive and enthusiastic approach has encouraged many of these students to continue seeking your mentorship throughout their first year.
Your efforts to build a cohesive community that supports the academic and social well being of Gilpatrick House residents are notable as well. This is a community that is flourishing.
You have done all of this while excelling in the classroom and as a researcher within the chemistry department, as well as a member of Denison’s bluegrass ensemble.
While we have certainly enjoyed your musical performances, we are grateful for your academic commitment and for your kind and thoughtful mentorship of your peers.
B.A. Health, Exercise, and Sport Studies
- Office of Admission, Senior Interviewer
- Interfraternity Council, President
- Health, Exercise, and Sport Studies Department, Fellow
You have served in multiple officer positions in Delta Chi, most notably as philanthropy and service chair. Your work led to the fraternity’s partnership with a local park where a disc golf course was created, opening up opportunities for great outdoor experiences for many others. Your collaborative work in the Interfraternity Council helped to bring the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event to Denison, and your sustained attention to that event resulted in twice as many participants in its successful second year. This important program brought members of the Denison community together around a critical campus issue and contributed to a stronger and more substantive partnership with the Newark Rape Crisis Center.
As IFC President, you led crucial discussions about the health of the fraternity community, leading to the Council’s vote to bring a new fraternity to Denison’s campus. You have brought attention to the service and philanthropic contributions of Denison’s fraternities, and contributed to their positive growth and recognition.
Alongside your visible leadership in campus life, you have served as a senior interviewer and pursued your scholastic goals with unflagging commitment.
We are proud to present you with this distinction.
B.A. Economics
- Residential Education & Housing, Head Resident, Resident Assistant
- University Appeals Board, Officer
- Varsity Track & Field
- Club Basketball
- Homelessness & Hunger, Volunteer
In your reflection you wrote, “Leadership is not a linear aspect of life.” In your four years at Denison, you have demonstrated this continuously.
You’ve never conceived leadership as telling others what to do, but instead as rolling up your sleeves to engage with them in making change.
As head resident, on the University Appeals Board, through Denison Enterprises, and with Operation Move-Out, you have demonstrated a deep commitment to seeing your peers succeed, tirelessly working to provide the support for them to excel.
Those close to you describe you as a quiet and humble leader who deeply cares about those who are around you. You’ve achieved success by motivating and mobilizing the talents of those around you.
You’ve never sought the limelight, and never sought recognition or praise, so awarding you the Distinguished Leadership Award is especially gratifying.
Thank you.
B.A. Sociology & Anthropology
- Black Student Union, Chief Minister
- Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, President
- The National Pan-Hellenic Council, Vice President
Lester, in your reflection you say that leadership is “being in control of how you contribute to the community and those around you.”
You’ve been a somewhat public figure at Denison, as an athlete, an actor, and a student leader whose mere presence changes the feeling in the room.
Your contributions have thus often been observable by many. Here is what we have seen: You are inspiring without being distant; you are light-hearted without relinquishing your gravitas; you celebrate others without forgetting their sacrifices.
While we’ve seen these qualities, we also recognize that your most evocative leadership is, as you wrote, “intimate” and that you find meaning and purpose in building close relationships with people who face obstacles, who’ve been denied opportunity, and whose chances of flourishing you can affect, personally.
You command respect in all quarters of campus, Lester, because of the power of the relationships you have forged and we expect that you’ll lead in every organization and community you enter.
We’re grateful for your contributions to this community.
B.A. Religion
- Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, President
- Denison Campus Governance Association (DCGA),
- Class Co-Governor, Policy Chair, PR Chair
- Office of Admission, Senior Interviewer, Tour Guide
- August Orientation, Leader and Peer Mentor
- Varsity Track & Field
You are described by your peers, faculty, and staff as an effective leader who is committed, consistent, responsible and accountable. Your passionate, inspirational leadership has enriched the lives of fellow Denisonians, through your leadership in the First-Year Office, Alumni and Family Engagement, the Denison Campus Governance Association, and Kappa Alpha Theta.
It is your focus on the growth and well-being of Denisonians that has set you apart from other student leaders. You have been indefatigable in your work behind the scenes to accomplish important projects that will improve the experience of fellow and future Denisonians.
As a servant leader, you made the conscious choice to serve first, with a focus on the development and wellbeing of your community. It is this authentic leadership that influences and inspires others to serve for the betterment of the Denison community. You have been a role model whose influence continues to inspire fellow Denisonians to put others before self. Your passion for your fellow students and commitment to social change, combined with a “service before self” attitude will be your legacy at Denison. Congratulations!
B.A. Communication and B.A. Spanish
- The National Pan-Hellenic Council, President
- Denison Campus Governance Association (DCGA), Vice President
- Office of Admission, Senior Interviewer, Tour Guide
- Story Slam, Co-founder
- Spanish – Department of Modern Languages, Fellow
Your leadership legacy at Denison is one of importantly “stepping up, then stepping back” so others may rise. Your quiet leadership has consistently opened opportunities for more voices to be heard, and for more experiences to be recognized, acknowledged, and celebrated.
Those nominating you consistently pointed to your history of forging relationships and creating partnerships, as you have through the National Pan-Hellenic Council, for example, and of helping others see, hear, and understand one another, as through the many Story Slams you’ve coordinated.
Beyond campus, you represented Denison as a valued intern and, through your teamwork and initiative, paved the way for Denisonians who will succeed you, for years to come.
In your reflection, you described your soon-to-be alma mater when you wrote about Denison, “You are seen here. Friends and faculty acknowledge every piece of what makes you unique: each quirk, success, and failure. No matter what, this is a place where you will find your people.”
What we have seen in you, Haley, is unending grace, integrity, and dedication to the common good.
B.S. Biology
- Hillel, President, Shabbat Coordinator, C3 Liaison
- S.H.A.R.E., Advocate
- Interfaith Council, Co-Founder, Co-Leader
- Cross Cultural Communities, Advisory Board Member
- The Open House, Student Assistant
In your own words, “Nothing is changed as one stands idly by, waiting for others to act.” You walk this talk; and, like a true leader, you take initiative to make systems better when you see it is possible and necessary. Possibly the largest beneficiary of your leadership on campus is religious life, The Open House, and more specifically Jewish life. Denisonians benefit more than they realize from your dedication to growing Jewish life and to interfaith engagement.
But you have touched not only those on campus but those within the larger community. You have pursued a significant amount of technical training, as a volunteer firefighter for Granville and for your future as a veterinarian.
Training like this to care professionally for living things requires both attention to detail and mature responsibility; in modeling both, you’ve brought an exceptional level of leadership to everything you do.
We look forward to cheering you on in your next chapter, and carrying on your legacy with the dedication you have shown us.
B.A. Communication and B.A. Psychology
- Active Minds, President of Denison Chapter
- National Student Advisory Committee, President
- Delta Gamma, Director of Alumni Relations
- Director of Social Awareness
- Office of Student Development, Student Assistant
- Psychology, Research Assistant
The passion you exude for mental health awareness and the support you provide for Denisonians in need is truly impressive. Your impact on the Denison University chapter of Active Minds has been immeasurable: in 2014, Active Minds was a membership-depleted, struggling student organization and now it is an effective locally- and nationally-recognized organization with a robust member population.
This, Kristina, can be attributed to your consistent, thoughtful, and empowering leadership. It is no surprise that you were asked to serve as the president of Active Minds’ national Student Advisory Committee.
A great leader is able to rally a community and you have done this so many times, reaching out to student organizations, departments and others throughout Licking County to bring people together — to identify community needs, to learn mental health first aid, to rally in support of those in need.
Your commitment to rallying support for mental health needs of young adults has improved the experience of other students not just during your tenure, but for the future as well. It is exciting to think of all the people that will benefit from your drive and passion. Thank you.
B.A. Communication
- Knowlton Center for Career Exploration, Peer Advisor
- Kappa Kappa Gamma, New Member Chairman, Standards Committee Member
- Burpee’s Seedy Theatrical Company, Treasurer, PR Chair
- Panhellenic Council, Rho Gamma
- Office of Admission, Tour Guide
Natalie, what we learned from your nominators is that you are a sort of human dialectic: you are a creative force who can also manage the execution of tasks; you are a quiet leader with a dynamic and vibrant personality.
In your reflection you noted that, as a young Denisonian, you learned from others “the importance of inclusion, the value of integrity, and the power of kindness.” Now others have come to see those leadership qualities in your own service to the Denison community, through your sorority, your improvisation troupe, and in your coaching of peers in the Knowlton Center.
A nominator wrote, “When Natalie is in the room, everything is better.” Your nominators uniformly hold you in high regard, pointing to the premiums you place on including and valuing others, and the care you exhibit for those you help. They point to your welcoming presence, your work ethic, your patience, your grace and poise, and above all, your positive outlook and spirit. You are a person of broad talent and inspiring character, and we are glad you will always be a Denisonian.
B.A. Psychology
- Black Student Union, Vice Chief Minister
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Pi Gamma Chapter President
- Leadership Felllows, Member
- Student Appeals Board, Member
- Academic Integrity Board, Member
In your reflection, you shared that “leaders have a duty to go into their new communities and inspire the youth to be empowered and reach their fullest potential.” You have exemplified this in your actions and involvements on campus. In addition to your contributions to the Leadership Fellows and residential education, you were instrumental in bringing Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated back to campus after an absence, serving as both vice president and then president during the critical re-establishment period.
You’ve provided strong leadership within the Black Student Union as well, demonstrating your hardworking, committed, and selfless character. You have mentored and coached so many in the Denison community that you have paved the way for the future Denisonians.
You do not back down from an opportunity to make an impact and do so with confidence. It is evident that, as you wrote, “leadership became more than an interest. It became a lifestyle.” Many members of our community have benefitted from your sense of duty, and have been inspired by the example you have set. Thank you.
B.A. HESS
- University Programming Council, Director of Programming
- Diversity & Inclusion Group for Student Athletes (DIG), Member
- D-Day, Co-Chair
- Varsity Football, Captain
- June Orientation, Coordinator
You have been a leader across campus since your freshman year. As a member of the football team, you established yourself as a leader on and off the field. You were named Second Team All-NCAC in your sophomore year, and First Team All-NCAC in your junior and senior years. You were active as a leader in Denison Athletics’ Diversity and Inclusion Group.
But it has been your ability to connect different communities at Denison that has set you apart as a campus leader. You’ve has been involved the past four years on the University Programming Council and you’ve been responsible for planning events that bring together the Denison community - from trips to Cedar Point and a Blue Jackets game, to chairing a tremendously successful D-Day Committee in your senior year.
Never one to seek the spotlight, you nonetheless work diligently behind the scenes, but your influence is felt through the connections you’ve made to transform the Denison community. No one will forget you, Joel.
B. A Communication
- Panhellenic Council, President
- Kappa Alpha Theta, Chief Operating Officer
- Humane Society, Volunteer
Stephanie, your involvement in Kappa Alpha Theta as chief operating officer gave you responsibility and oversight of both risk management and member development, two of the most difficult assignments in chapter management. Your creativity and positivity placed education and awareness at the forefront, empowering members to engage actively as students and to socialize responsibly.
When you became president of Panhellenic Council, you continued to lead change, challenging and supporting peers to make sometimes difficult decisions that put the long-term health of the fraternity and sorority community ahead of immediate fun and popularity. Championing cross-council collaboration, you successfully executed an inclusive Greek Week, setting the tone of unity within a long-divided community.
You embodied your sorority’s motto “Leading Women” by undertaking the difficult task of rearranging formal recruitment dates so that more Denison women could attend the Women’s March on Washington.
Your strength, courage and tenacity have positively impacted the Denison community and its members, and we can’t wait to see what you do next.
B.S. Biology
- Residential Education & Housing, Head Resident
- Tehillah, President
- Biology, Teaching Assistant
- Multicultural Recruitment & Scholarship Committee, Member
- Academic Support & Enrichment Center, Tutor
Na’il, you are a person of quiet impact, known for your devotion to your academic goals, working diligently towards medical school and your aspiration to become a pediatrician or neonatologist. You’re known also for the warmth and kindness you bring to your mentorship of other students, especially minority science students. You have served the campus capably as a tutor in biology and chemistry, and as a student assistant for the biology department.
Throughout your career, you have also served as a beloved and respected resident assistant and head resident. and Paving the Way mentor, and you’ve advocated to end healthcare disparities through your contributions on the Denison Diversity Strategy Team.
When away from campus, your work ethic has never flagged: you’ve volunteered in your home city of Milwaukee at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and the Next Door Foundation, both enabling you to practice your commitment to mitigating healthcare inequalities.
You’ve been a model of faith leadership through Agape, and you have brought joy to the campus through your own voice and your leadership of Tehilah, which you led as President for two years.
Your impact on this community has thus taken many forms and has touched many lives. We hold you in our hearts, as we know you hold this college in yours. We are deeply grateful, and also deeply proud of your affiliation with Denison.
B.A. Anthropology/Sociology
- Denison Campus Governance Association (DCGA), President
- Office of Admission, Senior Interviewer
- Department of Anthropology & Sociology, Fellow
- Kappa Alpha Theta, Executive Officer
Sara, you transferred into Denison and became involved in volunteer work, sorority life, admissions and orientation programs, later rising to the roles of senior interviewer for admissions and Denison Campus Governance Association president.
You reflect that throughout your leadership journey, you have become more self-aware and that confidence, compassion, empathy and patience have been qualities to lean into and learn. Doing so has allowed you to raise important questions about representation and organizational structure while fostering student wellbeing and safety.
You ask great questions, at just the right time. You step into roles when your skill set is needed most. You’ve put yourself out there, taking risks and giving your all.
You wrote that your experiences at Denison have led you to more fully appreciate and tap into your true potential. This award should make clear that we fully appreciate all that you’ve done and we’re only sorry we didn’t get you for all eight semesters. Thank you.
B.A. Psychology
- Hope for Autism, President
- Psychology, Fellow
- Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Volunteer
- America Reads, Tutor
- Spark, Volunteer
Selflessly generous, positive, inclusive, compassionate, and gracious. Those are just a few of the words used to describe you, Hannah. Your strength of character, sense of purpose, and action orientation fuel the foundation of your leadership. You have completely immersed yourself in service to the local community, including SPARK, Flying Colors Preschool, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, America Reads, to name some but not all of your activities.
During your two-year tenure as president of Hope for All, you doubled the size of the committee and added two new service sites, thus expanding the impact and reach of the program.
A local community member commends your work ethic and reliability but raves about your extraordinary ability to connect with individuals on a personal level, touching the lives of those around you. Another community member writes: “She immediately caught my attention with the light that radiates from her…she had stolen my heart and changed my outlook on life.”
Hannah, those you have served are forever grateful to have you in their lives, as are we to call you a Denisonian.
B.A. Economics and B.A. International Studies
- Denison Community Association (DCA), President
- June Orientation, International Student Registration Advisor
- International Student Orientation, Staff
- Residential Education & Housing, Resident Assistant
- International Studies Program, Student Staff
June Orientation staff member, International Student Orientation mentor, and resident assistant are just a few ways in which you’ve been involved, Hieu.
However, the place where you have made the most profound and lasting impression is through your leadership of the Denison Community Association, as a cabinet member for two years and president this year. As president, you organized weekly meetings, facilitated team mindfulness reflections, managed countless details, and established personal relationships with other student groups.
Your leadership approach is built on the foundation of collaborative inclusion, and because of your attention to inclusion, your nominator observes that you have built the strongest sense of community within any DCA cabinet in 14 years, with peers and staff alike expressing gratitude for being part of your team.
You are known for many strengths but what sets you apart is your ability to motivate and lead people in a clear direction while encouraging and coaching them along the way.
Hieu, we thank you for your dedication to actively helping those around you strengthen their own leadership skills and confidence. We’re a better community because of it.
B.S. Biology
- Leadership Fellows, Fellow
- Residential Education & Housing, Resident Assistant
- Break Away, Chair, Site Leader
- Sustained Dialogue, Moderator
- Academic Support & Enrichment, Tutor
Ryan, you joined Denison with a good attitude, a good heart, and a willingness to serve. You will graduate with these, in addition to a fierce and accomplished mind, an incredible capacity for empathy and proven success as an innovator and change-maker.
Your experience at D.U. Lead inspired you to forge a path of values-based leadership and mentorship. As a leadership fellow, your creativity and optimism shaped a new workshop, Power of Positivity, to explore how resilience, positive thinking and gratitude influence exceptional leadership. Later came SpeakEasy, your program to bridge the social, cultural, and personal communication gaps at Denison through empathic communication. You have embraced design thinking, using human-centered design, empathy and prototyping to develop new leadership programs for residential education.
Your influence on Denison will be felt long after you cross the stage at commencement. As you venture away from the Hill to become a physician, we’re gratified to have had a hand in nurturing a doctor who sees each patient as a person first, and who is influenced by both science and empathy.
B.A. English and B.A. International Studies
- Sustained Dialogue, President
- Global Fellows Project, Director
- Refugee Awareness Week, Creator and Coordinator
- Office of Admission, Senior Interviewer
- D.U. Lead, Club Advisor
Erin, you make things happen with a bright smile and energy that inspires people into relationship with one another. We are so grateful for your heart for drawing people in.
You say yourself that leadership is the ability to tie knots. And that is exactly what you have done here. Watching you lead your peers is incredible. You are a thoughtful team player, you delegate, trust others to provide input, and are committed to incorporating their ideas.
Last year, you created Refugee Awareness week, and this year you followed up by pouring countless hours into making Granville and Denison home to an Iraqi refugee couple, through the Global Fellows Project. Your leadership in this project, while maintaining your commitments across campus, is truly remarkable.
As leader of Sustained Dialogue, driven by your fierce empathy, you embody SD’s mission to “listen deeply enough to be changed.” And you have been relentless in providing opportunities for dialogue, even when your organization was tackling changes of its own.
You will go on to do amazing things, we are sure of it. Thank you, Erin, for sharing your joy and reminding us daily how joyful it is to do this work.