Denison University’s Board of Trustees has elected graduating senior Jesse Felker to serve as the Class of 2023 Recent Student Trustee. Felker will graduate on May 14 with a bachelor of science degree in biochemistry. While he serves in this role for the next two years, Felker will also teach secondary chemistry in New Orleans as a member of the Teach For America corps.
“I’m excited to be in a brand new place for a couple of years teaching – something I have grown to enjoy more during my time at Denison,” says Felker. “I’m extraordinarily appreciative and honored by this opportunity with the Board, and I still can’t quite believe it. I have engaged with a lot of what Denison has to offer and managing these involvements has taught me how to adapt and thrive in many new situations.”
Felker has been quite active across campus during his time on The Hill. In addition to his academic work, he was a four-year member of the varsity golf team, a resident community advisor, a musician, and the recruitment chair for Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.
A pre-dental student, Felker served as a chemistry and biochemistry tutor and was a research assistant with biology professor Andy McCall. As an athlete, he was a member of the Denison Student-Athlete Advisory Council and a three-time James T. Glerum, Jr. ‘82 Top 50 Scholar-Athlete. As a musician, Felker has composed music, sung with the acapella group DUwop, as well as arranged music and sung for the American Roots Ensemble.
Felker adds, “The biggest takeaway from my experience is the value in personal connections with the community. As a member of the board, I look forward to continuing to learn, grow, and to be a part of discussions to give back to Denison.”
More about the Denison Board of Trustees and Recent Student Trustee position:
The Board of Trustees consists of thirty-seven members plus the president of the university. Two trustee positions are reserved for recent students, who are asked to maintain a connection with and represent the current student body. Each year, a new Recent Student Trustee is selected from the graduating senior class to serve a two-year term. In this way, there is always one new and one experienced Recent Student Trustee, and the two have an opportunity to work together to bring helpful perspectives to the work of the board.