Tiffany Bidwell
Year: Senior
Major: Elementary & Special Education
Involvement/Leadership: President of Omicron Delta Kappa, Best Buddies
(previous president), WCU Honors program, Off-Campus and Commuter Association,
Bonner Leader Program Senior-Intern, member of Student Leadership Project
Team.
What is your favorite thing about WCU? I like the intimate student-teacher
relationships that form due to the small class sizes and caring faculty.
I do not feel like "just a number" as some students do at
larger universities.
What makes you a successful leader? Because the Honors Program's focus
on leadership, the content knowledge from these courses has helped
me in my leadership roles. I have also attended numerous SAIL programs
and leadership conferences (on- and off-campus) that have helped me
grow as a leader.
How has/how do you expect your experience in student clubs
and organizations to benefit you outside WCU? Not only will my variety of experiences
look good on a resume, but the numerous skills I have acquired as a
result of these clubs will help me in the "real world." I've
developed strong communication skills, learned the importance of delegation,
and realized the importance of networking through my experiences in
student clubs and organizations.
What advice can you give to new students to make the most
of their time at WCU? Get involved in co-curricular activities, but do not overload
yourself so that you do not have time for your academics. You are at
WCU to study in a degree program; classes are what you pay for. However,
much can be learned outside of the classroom as well, so be sure to
get a good balance of both in-class and out-of-class experiences.
What advice would you give a new student about leadership
and involvement? Do not try to do everything yourself as a leader of a club or organization.
Delegation is the key to leadership. Not only does dividing up responsibilities
decrease your stress, but it also empowers others to lead so that they
may take on leadership roles in the future of the club or organization.
What is the most important quality of an effective leader? Organization
is the most important quality in an effective leader. When a leader
is organized, it is a good reflection on the group as a whole. It also
provides structure for the follower and allows them to have trust in
the leader because he/she proves their competence through preparation
and organization.
Who is the leader you most look up to or has influenced you
the most? Dr. Kevin Dean, the director of the Honors program, has influenced
me the most because he taught a class on leadership which I was in
during my freshman year. He not only talked about leadership concepts
and skills, but he also modeled them in his life as a prominent figure
on campus.
What has been your best experience as a WCU leader? My best experience
as a WCU leader was when at the end of my second year as president
of Best Buddies, our chapter was recognized as Chapter of the Year
among the colleges involved in this national program in the Philadelphia
area. This award was a great recognition of my hard work and the work
of the group as a whole.
What are your plans for after you graduate? I plan to become a classroom
teacher, ideally as a special educator in an elementary school. I also
plan to return to WCU for my master's degree in literacy part-time.
Do you know a student leader who should be spolighted on our website? Email Natalie Shaak
