Spotlighting SLL’s Amazing Spring

Abernathy said her approach as board chair will be to learn where she can help and try to serve others. “I never considered myself a leader until other people called me one,” Abernathy said. “I just thought, ‘No, I’m just being me.’ But I think the courses I’ve taken helped me see that I have a leadership style. I consider myself more of a servant-leader and that is going to be my approach as board chair. To lead by serving others, and asking what they need and giving back.”

We’re excited to see everything you will accomplish, Darian!

Becca, who is an NC Fellow, also facilitated LEAD workshop sessions in Implicit Bias. Bria Clyburn, student leadership coordinator, has done a great job planning Leadershape, which will be held over Spring Break in Black Mountain, NC. Finally, Maris Thomson led coordinating student organizations and planning for the Spring Involvement Fair, that was a big success! We appreciate all you do, Becca, Bria and Maris!

In addition, Anthony serves on the Board of the Pan African Network as public relations and social media co-chair. In this role, Anthony has helped raise funds for staff and students to attend their annual conference and helped collect children’s books for public schools in Nashville.

The event was lively and fun, with popcorn, cotton candy and lots of other giveaways. Most importantly, hundreds of students got connected to opportunities to gain valuable experience with the convenience of working on campus! Just about every staff member contributed in some way to the success of this event, so a big kudos to everyone.

The first-year Fellows will kick off their experience with a retreat this March, designed by the senior cohort. The weekend includes dialogue and team-building exercises to promote cohesion and understanding within the cohort.

Adriana Jimenez-Guzman, an Exercise and Sports Science major from Burlington, NC entering the 2023 Fellows cohort, said that a friend who is a current fellow encouraged her to apply to the program. “I always knew when I came to Carolina that I wanted to join an organization where I could build my leadership skills and be more proactive in the community,” Jimenez-Guzman said. “I’m looking forward to meeting the other fellows, and building that community and connection with others. It’s a chance to meet new people and learn from their perspectives.”

Another member of the 2023 cohort, Matthew Wood, a Psychology and Sports Communication major from Waterford, Mich., said his goal as a cohort member was to build relationships that help him succeed at UNC.

“With NC Fellows, I’m looking forward to getting to know a group of people that I become really close with and establish that foundation to guide me at Carolina,” Wood said. “I want to feel like we accomplished something together and take what we learned as a cohort to whatever our next steps may be.”