Lindenberger selectedas Emerging Leader for 2003

Jennifer Lindenberger said she was very surprised and honored to learn that she was selected as the Emerging Leader of the Semester for Spring 2003.

Lindenberger is a sophomore with a double major in English and psychology.

In her short-term plan, Lindenberger hopes to do social work. Long term, she plans to open a women’s center with a mission similar to that of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).

Lindenberger is currently working an internship with CASA, a non-profit organization that represents the best interests of abused and neglected children in the court system.

Lindenberger’s passion to advocate women’s rights is also reflected in her involvement with the Clothesline Project.

According to Lindenberger, the Clothesline Project is “a visual display of shirts created in honor of or by women who have been a victim of violence.”

She adds that the purpose of the display is to “raise the awareness of violence against women.”

Lindenberger said her passion to advocate the rights of women, who are victims of violence stems from her Women in Society class last semester.

“We got started on domestic violence and abuse and it really bothered me,” she said. “When we were studying I felt really lucky I didn’t have to experience that.”

Lindenberger said it was that she decided to find a way to help raise awareness of the social problem. By raising awareness, she hopes to decrease the number of times violence against women occurs in society.

Lindenberger is also active in other campus organizations.

She is the vice president of the History Club and an historian for Eta Sigma Alpha, an honors and scholars organization.

Lindenberger was nominated for the award during the fall semester 2002 by her British Literature professor, Dr. Georgia Newman.

“I was aware from some of the writing that she had done that she was active in community work and was impressed with her spirit of volunteerism,” Newman said. “Even with (Jennifer’s) very busy schedule with extracurricular activities, she still puts her academic life first.”

Newman said she was equally impressed with Lindenberger’s leadership skills.

“She has a quiet, highly effective leadership style,” she said, adding that
Lindenberger was an encourager and often facilitated group discussion in her British literature class.

According to Dr. Bruce Harshbarger, vice president of Student Affairs and dean of students, the Emerging Leader of the Semester award is given by Omicron Delta Kappa to a freshman or sophomore, who is “making a difference in at least one significant way outside of the classroom.”

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Apr 4 2003. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry