Congratulations to our graduating seniors, and thank you for your work with NeW! We are pleased to spotlight some of our outstanding chapter leaders and members.
Meet Erika Head, President of NeW at Oakland University.
What were some of your favorite events that you participated in with NeW?
During the NeW Student Media Fellowship, I got to learn more about communications, interviews, and writing. With the help of NeW, I wrote my first op-ed and it was published in The Conservateur!
What are your plans after graduation?
I will graduate with my Bachelor’s degree in ELA for Educators in April 2024 and I will graduate with my Masters of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education in April 2025.
Following graduation, I plan to travel and spend more time with family and friends!
What advice would you give to a conservative woman starting college?
If you are scared, do it anyway! Take advantage of opportunities in college to join new clubs, try new hobbies, study abroad in a new place, and take new jobs. Use your time in college to explore things you might not have considered or expected before college. You will never regret saying “yes” to a new opportunity where you can learn more about yourself or more about others. Also, always be your authentic self in all settings. Never try to hide your beliefs or compromise on your beliefs to try and please others. You may lose some friendships, but those friendships may not have been worth it if someone cannot be open-minded enough to be friends with someone with different beliefs than themselves. Be confident in who you are and put yourself out there!
How has NeW impacted you and prepared you for your next steps?
NeW has offered me so many opportunities to gain real-world experience outside of my college classrooms. I was the NeW Communication Intern in Fall 2022 and learned how to write press releases, perform research, and create social media content. I was in the NeW Student Media Fellowship in 2023 where I got to hear from speakers in their fields about what it’s like to transition from college to the workforce. Planning, organizing, and executing NeW events on my campus gave me experience working with budgets, contacting speakers, and communicating event information on social media. All of this greatly improved my confidence and public speaking skills from the time I entered Oakland University to the time I will graduate at Oakland University. I would have never had opportunities like this without NeW.
Why is NeW important to you?
NeW has been my favorite club I have been involved with during my time at Oakland University. I have made life-long friendships with the women in my chapter and women across America. I can always count on my NeW friends to be there for me and I enjoy celebrating their accomplishments, too! Having a community of conservative women that I can turn to has been essential in all aspects of my life. I cannot wait to stay involved with NeW!
The Network of enlightened Women (NeW) provides premier opportunities for young conservative women like Erika. Learn how to bring a Chapter of NeW to your campus today!
