The Value of Joining Student Leadership

The application deadline to join the 2021-2022 Student Leadership team has been extended to April 14, 2021. Read on to learn why Senior Student Advisor Amanda Ayers believes you should apply.

My story of joining Sigma Tau Delta’s Student Leadership Committee as a Student Advisor is probably pretty familiar to most of the Student Leaders. I got involved with Sigma Tau Delta as a Junior at the University of North Georgia’s Gainesville Campus. As our chapter was preparing to attend the St. Louis Convention in 2019, I was serving on our chapter’s executive committee when one of our Chapter Advisors “suggested” (read: insisted and highly encouraged) me to apply for a leadership position in the organization. Listen to your Chapter Advisors, y’all—especially about scholarship and leadership opportunities.

Amanda joining her undergraduate Sigma Tau Delta chapter at the University of North Georgia—Gainsville Campus as they donate books to Books for Keeps during the pandemic.

When I was appointed as the Student Advisor, I joined a team of leaders with high hopes and big plans for the next year. We met in Las Vegas for the 2019 fall Board meeting and, as we explored the city, we got so excited to share the city with our Sigma Tau Delta community at the upcoming spring convention. And then the global pandemic happened and everything changed.

We’ve all experienced this change in various ways over the past several months. There’s a loss of what we expected and the grief that accompanies that disappointment. This isn’t how I imagined my two years as a Student Advisor would go. So today, I want to talk about what I’ve learned as the Sigma Tau Delta Board of Directors has navigated this change and how valuable, even through these difficult times, being a member of Student Leadership has proven to be.

3 Things I’ve learned as a Student Leader

How to stay connected as a graduate student.
Sigma Tau Delta was a huge part of my experience as an undergraduate. I love seeing updates from the chapter at my alma mater, but my involvement with the Society on an international level has kept me firmly connected and invested with this community. I’ve benefited from various scholarship and leadership opportunities as a graduate student. So, if you’re graduating this year and have your sights set on grad school, Student Leadership could be a practical way to stay connected to this organization.
How an international Board of an academic honor society runs.
Whether your sights are set on a career in academia, communications, or creative pursuits, the opportunity to understand how a Board runs gives you particular insight into the inner-workings of organizational leadership. As a Student Leader, I’ve served on various committees and task forces. And, through that opportunity, I’ve learned the ins and outs of working for a healthy Board and with a group of people who have a shared goal and common values.
How important the voices of the students are to the Sigma Tau Delta Board.
The Student Leadership committee is headed by two Student Advisors, who are both voting members of the Board. I’ve learned how unique it is to have student members of an honor society’s Board. When the student leaders speak up in committee meetings, the other Board members listen. Our perspective is important and highly valued.

Amanda leading the 2020-2021 Student Leadership Committee during virtual meetings.

Consider gaining invaluable experience by joining the 2021-2022 Student Leadership Committee! Applications are open now through March 31.

Amanda Ayers
Student Advisor, 2019-2021
Rho Epsilon Chapter
Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

Spring 2021 Opportunities

Sigma Tau Delta offers a number of opportunities for members to take part in the management of the Society. Participants gain firsthand information on the Society’s operations as well as play a part in the governance of and planning for Sigma Tau Delta.

Student members interested in expanding their Sigma Tau Delta experience beyond the chapter level are encouraged to volunteer for leadership opportunities at the Society’s regional and international levels.

Application period extended to April 14, 2021

Student Advisor (SA)

One of the two Student Advisors (SAs) is selected by the Board of Directors each spring. SAs serve for two years and provide the student voice as voting members of the Board of Directors. They also chair the Student Leadership Committee. SAs advocate for the needs and concerns of the student members of Sigma Tau Delta. The two SAs work together promoting the goals of the Society among its members.

Eligibility:

Must be a Sigma Tau Delta member at a school with an active chapter; and
Must plan on attending a school with an an active chapter, through the end of appointed two-year term (April 2021 – March 2023).

SA Duties and Application Requirements

Student Representatives (SR) / Student Associate Representatives (ASR)

The 2021-2022 Student Representatives (SRs) and Associate Student Representatives (ASRs) will be appointed by the corresponding Regent. There will be one SR and one ASR appointed for each of the six Regions. Please refer to the Chapter Directory to determine which region your chapter is in.

Eligibility:

Must be a Sigma Tau Delta member at a school with an active chapter; and
Must plan on attending a school with an an active chapter, within the Region you apply for, through the end of appointed one-year term (April 2021 – March 2022).

SR/ARS Duties and Application Requirements