Student Leadership Recognition

Elizabeth Hien is a senior Sociology and Black Studies double major from Lincoln, Rhode Island. On campus, she serves as the Co-President of PC Mock Trial, President of the Pre-Law Society, Editor of the Yearbook, and an admissions ambassador. Outside of PC, Elizabeth volunteers at her church’s homeless shelter, Holy Family Home for Women and Children, where she watches kids while their mothers attend a weekly parenting program.

When asked how she demonstrates leadership at Providence College, Elizabeth pointed to her involvement in the three aforementioned student organizations. To elaborate, Mock Trial is a student-run competition club that argues criminal and civil law cases against other collegiate mock trial clubs. This semester alone, Elizabeth and her team have attended five competitions. As Co-President for the past two years, she plans and runs meetings twice a week, maintaining club relations with twenty-four members. As one of the club’s leaders, Elizabeth is also responsible for teaching trial procedure, legal arguments and objections, and case theory. When describing the Mock Trial community she’s helped assemble and grow, Elizabeth stated “to see our team members share the same gratitude for this club that I do has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my leadership role.”

Moving into her service as President of the Pre-Law Society, a student-run club consisting of 120 members, Elizabeth books lecturers and organizes panels of PC alum in legal professions to speak to participating students. Hosting monthly meetings, she works tirelessly to build alumni relations and exhibit potential industry paths for pre-law students. Lastly, as an editor of the Providence College yearbook for all four years, Elizabeth has corresponded with four different senior classes, forging relationships with over 120 student clubs annually to ensure that all PC stakeholders are adequately represented.

As a proven student-leader, Elizabeth stresses the importance of forming intentional connections as a foundation for effective teamwork: “building good team relations is crucial in a competition club like mock trial, where the workload can be intense and the pressure high.” She noted that a student-leader should constantly be learning from their mistakes, discovering new ways to guide others by listening to feedback from the group and adapting their style accordingly. In fact, Elizabeth described her leadership style as one that blends relationship-building and leading by example: “I make it a priority to be fully committed to the team—whether it’s through preparation, creating a positive space for them, or offering support—and this dedication encourages my teammates to do the same.”

When asked what she hopes to accomplish before she graduates, Elizabeth said that she strives to continue making every member of Mock Trial feel accepted and encouraged to grow as student-leaders. She hopes her leadership will leave behind a lasting sense of community for future members to build upon and enjoy. Looking to the future, Elizabeth plans to spend a gap year working at Amos House, a nonprofit in Providence, before attending law school, bringing her vast leadership experience to a new and worthwhile cause.

The International Business Club (IBC) at Providence College demonstrates remarkable leadership through its dedication to fostering career development and forging meaningful connections amongst students, alumni, and professionals. The club’s executive board—President Kate McDonald, Vice Presidents Diego Garcia and Liam Grady, Treasurer Olivia Blair, and Secretaries Kristina San Antonio and Christian Luca—exemplify the dedication needed to organize successful events and effectively lead participating students. In fact, one of IBC’s most impressive accomplishments relates to its massive reach and subsequent impact; boasting over 600 members from the business school and beyond, this club unites PC students from all four grades under the shared goals of learning from and networking with relevant guest speakers.

That being said, catering to such a large and diverse group of students presents a unique challenge for IBC—planning events that are equally engaging and impactful for all members, not just certain segments like underclassmen or upperclassmen. In order to balance programming with varied and rapidly growing membership, IBC’s exec board remains committed to gathering feedback and refining the program. As a result of their adaptability, student-leaders within the club have seen increasingly strong attendance numbers across all events over the past few years. During this time, the board has “learned that relationships are the key to success, whether that be creating a strong, fun bond between executive board members, maintaining connections with our club advisors, or making ourselves well-acquainted with SEAL.”

This November, IBC recruited Keri Murschell ‘94 to discuss with students her thriving professional career and popular brand, Keri Golf. At the event, Keri relayed her entrepreneurial journey, offering valuable insights into product design, overseas manufacturing, and brand deal navigation. The event, hosted in collaboration with Delta Sigma Pi and Sports and Entertainment, provided students with real-world advice and inspiration, underscoring IBC’s commitment to bringing distinguished alumni back to campus to share their expertise.

When asked about their goals for the 2024-2025 academic year, IBC stated that they are currently working through a transition in leadership as senior board members prepare to step down. As such, the club is committed to facilitating a seamless handover of responsibilities to incoming board members, including two students returning from programs abroad. This upcoming transition reflects IBC’s emphasis on relationship-building and mentoring, ensuring that the future leadership team will continue to support and elevate the club’s mission. As the International Business Club continues to make an impact on both the PC community and beyond, the actions of their current members, Kate McDonald, Diego Garcia, Liam Grady, Olivia Blair, Kristina San Antonio, and Christian Luca serve as a shining example of collaboration, professionalism, and personal growth.

On Friday, November 10th, the Club Pickleball Team hosted a tournament fundraiser in collaboration with Friars for Military. Held in honor of Veterans Day, the event raised $294 for Camp Resilience, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing financial support for veterans, first responders, and their families.

This event is a perfect example of student-leadership and collaboration, as Club Pickleball and Friars for Military worked together to make it such a success. Club Pickleball’s executive board—including President Thalia Sapia, Celia Reddington, Chris Graceffa, and Sarah Morley—took the lead in organizing the event. They set up equipment, created awareness posts on social media, and coordinated efforts with President Hope Barry of Friars for Military, who helped spread the word and facilitate donations. As a result, the tournament was popular amongst students, with many coming out to play pickleball and support Camp Resilience.

Beyond raising money for a meaningful cause, this fundraiser showcased the leadership of Club Pickleball in spearheading themed events that connect the campus community to important causes. As one of the few student-run club teams to host fundraisers like the Veterans Day Tournament, Club Pickleball has set a fantastic example of how club sports can use their platforms to give back. Events like these create an atmosphere of unity, where participants can come together to enjoy the game, contribute to charity, and make a tangible difference in the lives of those who have served our country.

In our interview, Club Pickleball President Thalia Sapia reflected on key lessons she learned whilst organizing the tournament, noting the importance of advocacy and hard work in bringing her vision to life. She emphasized the behind-the-scenes efforts required to make such an impactful event happen, expressing gratitude for the support shown by both her executive board and the greater PC community. Thalia perfectly summarized the fundraiser and its impact with the following statement: “themed events like this one […] give everyone a reason to come out, play pickleball, donate to an amazing cause, and have fun!”