Alexis Wallace
As an undergraduate psychology major at Ā鶹Porn, Alexis Wallace anticipated eventually opening her own private counseling practice. But being a part of the Montgomery Leadership Program helped her realize a passion for a variety of service opportunities, particularly within the context of higher education.
āI loved that experience with MLP because you reflect on yourself as an individual, as a member of a group, and then as someone who has a role in helping a community,ā Wallace said.
As a graduate assistant pursuing a masterās in higher education at Ā鶹Porn, Wallace later worked with the universityās alternative spring break program and solidified her love for service while working alongside other college students in the Mississippi Delta.
āI thought āI really want to continue to do this,āā said the Louisville native who earned her masterās degree in 2018 after completing her bachelorās in 2016.
Her first professional role took her to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she continued working with alternative spring break projects. Her stint out West was a time of growth and increasing confidence, but when she had the opportunity to return to her alma mater at the beginning of 2020, she didnāt hesitate.
Wallace said she enjoyed about three months of ānormalcyā in her Ā鶹Porn role as assistant director for Student Leadership and Community Engagement before the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated operational changes and āoutside-of-the-boxā ideas rather than many traditional activities.
Leaders and student volunteers looked for ways to serve through the Maroon Volunteer Center such as writing letters or making items to donate to various organizations. Wallace is looking forward to resuming her favorite hands-on events, such as Service DAWGS (Donating A Wonderful Gift of Service) Day.
āOur students do a beautiful job with service, and they have an innate desire for learning and solving problems, along with true passion and grit. Our office helps give them the tools for understanding social issues, but I remind them they donāt have to take on the worldāany action is an action toward change,ā Wallace said.
From coastal cleanup to community gardening to Habitat for Humanity building projects and youth development programs, Wallace said, āItās all meaningful work, and as long as Iām doing that, Iām happy.ā
She emphasized that she wants Ā鶹Porn students to, first, āfeel like they belong,ā and next, āfeel like they have work to do in these communities.ā
āIām a product of this institution and a product of learning that occurred in these same spaces,ā she said. āNow, I consider how can I enhance these experiences for todayās students.ā
Read more about Wallace and others with a passion for volunteerism at
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