As part of our Chapter Leader Spotlight, we caught up with Lindsey Schulenburg, Vice President for NeW at the Germanna Community College.
How did you first hear about NeW?
My freshman year, a few juniors started a NeW chapter at Grove City and invited me to attend their meetings. I really looked up to the girls on exec and wanted to get a chance to learn about politics from them and get to know them better.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and why you became involved in NeW?
I became involved in NeW because I wanted to be a part of a group that encourages young women to gather together to discuss important ideas, issues, and events. As a freshman at a school where everyone seemed to know everything about politics, I wanted an opportunity to learn from my peers in a non-academic setting.
What appeals to you about NeW?
NeW provides great opportunities for networking and leadership development, which is important for young women interested in politics as well as other fields.
What made you want to start a NeW chapter?
Our chapter president, Hannah, attended the NeW conference last summer and decided to re-start our chapter as the previous exec team graduated. We both really appreciated NeW as freshmen and thought it would be important to give the current underclassmen the same experience that we loved so much.
Why is having a NeW chapter on campus so important to you?
Gathering over a cup of tea every two weeks, our meetings have become a unique time for girls from multiple disciplines and social circles to spend time together, share different perspectives on issues, and learn from each other.
How do you benefit from being a part of NeW? What is the best part of being involved with NeW?
Serving on exec for our chapter, I have grown as a leader and also grown as a student. NeW makes me more curious and excited about current events and issues. Also, I love seeing our hard work pays off when meetings and events come together.
What makes you the most excited about being a part of NeW?
One of my favorite parts of NeW is that we have a set time and place to discuss things that matter with people who are interested in participating. I also appreciate that NeW encourages young women to form their own opinions and to have the confidence to speak up.
