By Kendra Loh
Staff Writer
Being “the voice” of more than 4,000 people could be seen as a heavy responsibility, but Kylie McDonald handles it well.
As Student Government Association executive president, McDonald’s job affects her daily routine as she strives to be “the link” between students and Union’s administration.
McDonald, senior political science major, began her term Feb. 8. She helps SGA’s executives fulfill their roles, is an advocate for the student body, is a member of the debate team and also leads a small group of high school girls at West Jackson Baptist Church.
McDonald said she has learned to prioritize by making a weekly list of tasks.
“By listing my most important priorities and then using my free time to juggle the other things I need to accomplish, I make sure that I give everything I can to my classes while still taking care of the extracurriculars I’m involved in,” McDonald said.
McDonald usually starts her mornings reading the Bible, doing homework and getting organized for the week. When she is not in class, McDonald is in the SGA office writing to campus leaders and brainstorming ways to encourage other SGA officers.
She also meets with Jason Castles, SGA adviser, and Dr. Kimberly Thornbury, senior vice president for student services and dean of students.
On some afternoons, she meets with Union University President David S. Dockery to discuss his vision for the university and how to implement that vision. McDonald said she has learned a lot about leadership from him.
“Dr. Dockery is very vision-based and gets everyone to be working in the same direction to fulfill a purpose,” she said. “Being an executive on SGA is all about vision-casting, deciding where we want SGA to go and getting class officers to latch onto that idea and run with it.”
In addition to meetings with SGA officers, she also attends “socials” with them.
“Last month’s social event was judo, and we learned to throw one another on the mats; it was so much fun,” McDonald said. “They are all so gifted, and I love doing what I can to encourage them and always challenge them to be better leaders on this campus.”
McDonald attends weekly Senate and all-staff meetings at night, where she interacts with student leaders and conducts meetings with SGA officers regarding upcoming plans.
Although McDonald enjoys meeting with people and being efficient in her daily work, she also values time alone to reflect and gather her thoughts at the end of the day.
“I have to find time to get away and close my door, get out my Bible and seek the Lord to find my rest and peace in Him,” she said.
McDonald added that being SGA president affects who she is and how she interacts with people on a daily basis.
“Being SGA president affects the way I think, the way I act on the intramural field, the way I interact with students and professors and the way that I talk about Union,” she said.
McDonald said she came into the position knowing that it is not about how important she is or what she can achieve alone.
“This is about leading to the best of my abilities for the student body because of who Christ is and what He has done for me,” McDonald said.
Jason Castles, assistant dean of students and SGA adviser, said an SGA president should be approachable and able to cast a vision that motivates others in order to lead well. Castles added that McDonald is proactive in finding ways to improve SGA’s leadership on campus and that she empowers other officers in their roles by consistently encouraging them.
“Kylie meets and exceeds all her duties as SGA president,” Castles said. “She makes my job as adviser more enjoyable and less stressful because I know that she loves what she does.”
