Michelle.Gardner@nau.edu 

The involvement experiences I had as an NAU student helped me make friends, and challenged me to figure out who I was. Clubs and out of the classroom experiences, are what brought me to call NAU “home”. As a first-generation college student, I was lost with navigating college life. It was the friends I made when I decided to get involved, that helped me find resources, and gain confidence. Involvement helped me understand what I believed, my identities, and challenged me to grow. It was these experiences that got me into graduate school, and change my career path to support other college students as they start their journey.

Marissa.Griffin@nau.edu

If it weren’t for my involvement in Sorority life during my undergraduate, I wouldn’t have stayed in school and graduated. Academics never come easy to me, especially math. Being a member of a sorority challenged me to find the leadership skills I never knew I had and learn study habits I didn’t have in High School. I made new friends with like-minded ideals and engaged in events that fundraised money for local and national nonprofits. Most of the time, I wasn’t the leader nor held a position; some may even say I was the troublemaker. But looking back, I know it held me accountable, kept me motivated, and allowed me to walk away with transferable skills, a career, and a network of support across the country.

Salvador.Lopez@nau.edu

Building a community on campus was a significant challenge for me due to being part of a large institution. However, I slowly became more relaxed getting out of my comfort zone by participating in a math club, surrounded by individuals that shared similar interests. During graduate school, I was also provided with the opportunity to become an officer for two distinguished organizations; Student Affairs Higher Education (SAHE) and Chi Sigma Alpha Student Affairs Honor Society (CSA). These organizations helped me gain leadership skills, exercise abilities to effectively facilitate meetings/events, understand organizational budgets, and build a sense of community at NAU. Getting involved on campus makes a meaningful difference in a person’s college journey. I highly encourage students to strengthen their sense of belonging at NAU by seeking communities (e.g., club, organization, fraternity, and sorority) that care about their overall personal, professional, and academic development and success.

Nancy.Navarro@nau.edu 

Being involved on campus was a large part of my success at NAU. As a first-generation student I was navigating what felt like a whole different world. I was a part of the Successful Transition and Academic Readiness (STAR) which helped me get my footing before I even started classes in the Fall. STAR was the first step in creating my “home away from home” at NAU and where I made lifelong friends.  TRIO Student Support Services also grew my community on campus and helped me develop skills and knowledge to be a successful student and overall, a well-rounded person. As a Latina searching for my community on campus, I joined Gamma Alpha Omega. This group of women helped me have a second family on campus and let me know I was not alone in the challenges I was facing. I also took part in M.E.Ch.A. and helped create the organization Voces Unidos as an undergrad. Each one of these organizations impacted me through the support provided. I gained the confidence to advocate for myself and others, learned to give back to the community, embraced my identities and culture, and developed professional skills through the leadership opportunities I was entrusted with. My love for NAU stems from those who made this a home for me and drives me to make it a home for current and future Lumberjacks.

Angelica.Brady@nau.edu

My journey of belonging began with letting go, as one does when they leave the familiarity of high school behind to pursue higher education. That quickly changed when I joined groups and clubs that nudged me into becoming myself. Cultural celebration and social justice with M.E.Ch.A, promoting healthy habits and fun movement (electric slide, anyone?) with a women’s health club, organizing drives/fundraisers that gave back to the larger community – these are some of the many, many events that shaped me throughout my academic career. In these groups, and campus involvement in general, I built the foundations of who I am now – a Latina who celebrates her culture, an educator who knows that play is integral to innovation (and wellbeing!), and a person who constantly strives to make the world a better place. Being part of NAU and in the Office of Leadership & Engagement, it is my goal to support you in finding the communities that embrace you and give you opportunities to highlight your inherent gifts and strengths!  

Elyse.Englestadter@nau.edu

I am thrilled to be a part of the Leadership and Engagement community at NAU. As an undergrad at Boise State University, I learned the importance of involvement, especially through my sorority experience. Being involved provided me with a sense of belonging and a supportive community. It’s empowering to be surrounded by people who share similar interests and goals, fostering an environment where students feel encouraged to take on new challenges and grow as individuals. Moreover, being involved allows us to give back to our campus community and make a positive impact!

Meredith.Hall@nau.edu

As an undergraduate at the University of North Texas, I was a student member and officer in an academic organization specific to my major called Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology. Through my involvement, I learned leadership skills, utilized problem management skills, and explored future career and educational opportunities. It can be difficult to manage an organization, but it is those various challenges that add value to the student involvement experience. I look forward to the opportunity to help students, like you, in the Office of Leadership and Engagement!