Women of WU

Pronouns: she/her

Job Title: Visiting Assistant Professor

Involvement on Campus: I teach general chemistry as well as Chemistry for Kids, where we explore what K-12 chemistry education looks like and how to effectively teach students chemistry from elementary school to high school. I am also heavily involved in the STEMinar program and mentoring neurodivergent STEM students.

Someone I Admire: Sally Ride

What I've Learned from Being a Leader at WU: I love how passionate everyone here is and willing to engage in deep, meaningful conversations about the world around them! I'm amazed at how deeply students and faculty alike care about making the world a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and just place, and I'm so excited to see students go out and turn those words into actions.

Word of Hope for a Better Willamette: Action

Pronouns: she/her

Major: Biochemistry

Involvement on Campus: General Manager of The Bistro, President of the Residence Hall Association

Someone I Admire: I really admire my mom, she's the nicest person I know and always takes great care to love me and the people in my life.

What I've Learned from Being a Leader at WU: I've learned how to stand up for myself and the groups I represent in order to ensure their best interests are being put forward. I've had the most amazing experiences as a leader here, the students at Willamette truly do their best to help one another.

Word of Hope for a Better Willamette: Growth

Pronouns: she/her

Major: Sociology

Minor: CCM

Jobs: Outdoor Program Assistant Coordinator, ODP Steppin' Out, Restorative Justice Coalition

What I've Learned from Being a Leader at WU: There are 5 stages of group development: forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning

Word of Hope for a Better Willamette: Rest

Pronouns: she/her

Job Title: Professor in Civic Communication and Media Studies; Global Cultural Studies; Women's and Gender Studies

Involvement on Campus: Advisor of Sinophone Cultural Association; Faculty Liaison of NW5C Community Engagement Learning; Relationship Development

Someone I Admire: bell hooks

What I've Learned from Being a Leader at WU: My colleagues and students are creative, adaptive, and diligent. More importantly, they are willing to listen and eager to contribute to a supportive and inclusive community. Being a leader requires to recognize people's strength and needs and understand their individual background to provide support and ask for help.

Word of Hope for a Better Willamette: Supportive 

Pronouns: she/her

Job Title: University Chaplain

Involvement on Campus: Chaplain, Spiritual Leader, Inner Caregiver, Grief Counselor, Religious Studies Instructor, Social Justice Advocate, Spiritual and Religious Student Club Overseer, Black Student Union Advisor, Intern Supervisor, Community Gatherer, Friend, and Confidant.

Someone I Admire: Octavia Butler

What I've learned from being a leader at Willamette: I’ve learned that patience is indeed a virtue.

Word of Hope for a Better Willamette: Liberation

Pronouns: she/her

Majors: Psychology and Spanish

Minor: Economics

Involvement on Campus: Community Service Learning Assistant Coordinator, Resident Advisor

What I've Learned from Being a Leader at WU: I've learned a lot from other leaders at Willamette who have had such diverse experiences and have helped me to become a better leader for my fellow students.

Word of Hope for a Better Willamette: Equitable

Pronouns: she/her 

Major: Public Health Minor: Biology

Involvement on Campus: BSU President, Cheer Captain, RA, Dance Co Choreographer

Someone I Admire: My whole support system, I have been brought up by some amazing people and I can't thank them enough for it. Each brick in my foundation has taught me to listen, learn, love, forgive, and most importantly be the B.E.S.T me I can possibly be.

What I've Learned from Being a Leader at WU: I am a huge advocate not only for myself, but my community. I do my best to elevate all voices to ensure that everyone is heard, because I believe a good leader stands with her team! I also use my past experiences, mistakes included, to help build up and improve the future for others, in and outside the classroom. Improvements don't happen overnight, standing together and making a difference step by step is most important. 

Word of Hope for a Better Willamette: Compassion

Pronouns: she/her

Major: Mathematics

Minor: Biology

Involvement on Campus: I am a Lead Caller at Bearcat Chat, I am Co-president of the Willamette Rugby Football Club, and a Contributing Writer for the Collegian.

Someone I Admire: I admire my mom. She inspires me every day to be the best me that I can be.

What I've Learned from Being a Leader at WU: I have learned so much about communication and generating a healthy environment for myself and those around me.

Word of Hope for a Better Willamette: Openness

Pronouns: they/them

Majors: Spanish, Global Cultural Studies

Minor: Latin American Studies

Job: E&E Supervisor

Involvement on Campus: Native Sign Project (CAFES), Native and Indigenous Student Union, Co-Founder of Neurodivergent Student Union, Leader of Neurodivergent Students of Color, Queer Trans Students of Color, EDI Committee (from fall 2020-spring 2022), Recipient of Carson Grant

Someone I Admire: The people at Willamette who believe in me despite my difficulties

What I've Learned from Being a Leader at WU: Through being a leader at WU I have learned the importance of boundaries and being accommodated and how to establish those at the beginning of a relationship to ensure my personal well-being

Word of Hope for a Better Willamette: Transparency

Pronouns: she/her

Job Title: Assistant Registrar

Involvement on Campus: Registrar's Office, Willamette Academy Graduate, 2014 WU Alumna, MLK Steering Committee, Into the Streets Community Service Committee

Someone I Admire: Raquel Martin, Ph.D

What I've Learned from Being a Leader at WU: Trust your team. If you know you've hired great people, trust them to do the job and do it well.

Word of Hope for a Better Willamette: Community

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Major: Chinese Studies

Involvement on Campus: I work as a student manager at the Hatfield library, Chinese language tutor, and as a Colloquium Associate and peer mentor to first year students. In the past, I was also a student ambassador with the Admission Office. I am a part of many student clubs on campus, and especially enjoy being on the student executive team for Sinophone Cultural Association [SCA]. I am also the former co-president of the Asian Coalition for Equality [ACE].

People I Admire: My mother and Amal Clooney

What I've Learned from Being a Leader at WU: Something that I've enjoyed from being a leader at WU is how supportive all student organizations are of each other, especially student clubs within the Office of Intercultural Engagement and Inclusion. In previous student leadership positions, I never thought about reaching out to other leaders for help or offering my own support. Here at WU, I've been able to collaborate with a number of student clubs and learn from other student leaders, which made the experience much more enjoyable. Plus, I've been able to make amazing friends from working together and always felt encouraged to continue my work from the support provided by other leaders.

Word of Hope for a Better Willamette: Connected

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Major: Exercise & Health Science

Minor: Spanish

Involvement on Campus: Native & Indigenous Student Union (NISU), Barista at Rick's Café, Bearcat Pantry Co-Coordinator, Resident Advisor

Someone I Admire: Delia Olmos-Garcia, Executive Director of Willamette Academy.

What I've Learned from Being a Leader at WU: You don't have to have a certain leadership style to be a leader, and depending on the leadership position that you're involved in, the approach may shift. Because of this, there is no one-way or perfect approach to being a leader, and staying true to yourself is important.

Word of Hope for a Better Willamette: Diversity

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Major: Biology

Minor: Chemistry

Involvement on Campus: Student Researcher with Professor Melissa Marks, President of Willamette Dance Company, Choreographer for both Dance Company and Hawai'i Club's Lu'au, 3x First-year Resident Advisor for RLH

Someone I Admire: My mom!

Word of Hope for a Better Willamette: Understanding

Pronouns: she/they

Job Title: Assistant Professor of English, American Ethnic Studies, and Women's and Gender Studies

Current Research: Race in the Pacific Northwest; preserving local oral histories; Latinx communities in Marion County. 

Involvement on Campus: I serve as faculty advisor for two student groups and am starting a chapter for Sigma Tau Delta (English Honor Society) this year. "

Someone I Admire: My family & community in the Rio Grande Valley—but especially the memory of my father, Oscar Hernández.

What I Have Learned from Being a Leader at WU: My WU students & colleagues have been wonderful teachers on leadership. They remind me to lead, teach, and serve with a community vision in mind.

Word of Hope for a Better Willamette: Mutuality

Pronouns: she/her

Job Title: Academic Technology Administrator

Involvement on Campus: I work in the WITS team at the PNCA campus and recently became the advisor of the Outdoor Adventure Club.

Someone I Admire: Sally Mann.

Word of Hope for a Better Willamette: Community