Brigette
Gardner
Assistant
Director, OFSA
Hometown: Springboro, OH
Educational Background: Ohio University, B.S. in Communications
Wright
State University, M.Ed. in Student Affairs and Higher Education
Affiliation: Delta Gamma Fraternity
Professional
Highlights:
- Throughout graduate school, I worked in Alumni Relations
at Wright State University where I planned and implemented events for
alumni as well as advised a student organization, Student Alumni Association.
- As
part of my work in Alumni Relations, I also had the opportunity to travel
across the country to coordinate our Rise. Shine. Campaign gala events in
NYC, LA, Cleveland, and, last but not least, in Dayton where Tom Hanks was
our keynote speaker!!
- I interned in OFSA at Lehigh University during summer
2015!! Some of my projects included writing curriculum for the 2015 Greek
Leader's Retreat, working with the three council presidents on various
projects, and developing OFSA's hazing website (check it out!!).
- I also interned at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, England for three weeks this past spring where I consulted on how to increase inclusion efforts across their clubs and societies (their equivalent to our student organizations).
Why did you decide to pursue a career in fraternity and sorority affairs?I t was during my time on
Panhellenic Council as an undergraduate member of Delta Gamma that I realized a
career in fraternity and sorority life or student affairs, in general, was even
possible! I was so passionate about the work Panhellenic Council at Ohio
University was doing, growing the community and further developing members,
that I decided to go to graduate school and pursue student affairs as a career.
Fraternities and sororities have so much power to leave a lasting impact,
whether that be positive or negative. I see the value in our Greek-letter
organizations and it is my goal, as a professional, to make sure that impact is
positive.
What
do you hope to do during your time at Lehigh University? Our organizations were originally founded to further social
change in this country whether it be around the women's suffrage movement, the
civil rights movement, or others. It is my goal as a professional to help
fraternity and sorority members realize the power y'all have and help you to
create positive change in your communities: the Greek community, the Lehigh
University community, and the Bethlehem community! Apart from that, another hope I have is to make
a difference for you all as individual students, however that may look.
What
has been your impression of the Lehigh Greek Community so far? With the start off the year and attending my
first Base Camp, I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of wonderful leaders
in the fraternity and sorority community! There are a lot of passionate members
who want to make this community the best version of itself! It's also truly
impressive to see how high of achievers you are, in and out of the classroom!!
Shout out to those of you who are studying abroad! What an amazing experience
and it's great to see how many people participate in that.