Leading Care: Senior Meghan Galvin and Chi Eta Phi

In this interview, senior Meghan Galvin reflects on her leadership in advancing nursing through service in a pre-professional organization.

She served as President, Chi Eta Phi, Theta Delta Beta Chapter.

How did you rise to this leadership position?   I joined Chi Eta Phi my sophomore year and was elected as the Secretary my Junior year. I became more involved in Chi and fell in love with their mission and the different service projects they were doing. When it came to elect positions for my Senior year, I spoke about my interest in becoming president. The members in the club all spoke about what positions they were interested in and it was soon agreed among the members, then confirmed with our advisor, that I would serve as president my senior year.

What are the issues you deal with and what’s the biggest challenge in your area?   One of the main challenges I face would be communication. I believe that one of the most difficult thing about being the president is that you have to make sure you are communicating with every member in the club. You need to be receptive to their ideas and try to work with them to make them come to life. You also have to serve as the bridge between the advisor and the rest of the members. A lot of work goes in behind the scenes but it is important to keep everyone updated and making sure everyone is on the same page.

How does innovation fit into your role as leader?     As president, innovation is necessary to make sure that ideas are being put into fruition and that everything is kept up to order. Ever members has passions and interests and we try to do service projects that align with those interests. However, that usually means creating new service projects and being innovating and creative to find projects that would be interesting to participate in but also effective.

Is there anything you wish you’d done differently on your rise to this position or while in it?     I am very glad I joined Chi Eta Phi and I am forever grateful for the relationships I have developed and the role that I have played. Something I would have done differently was that I would have spent more time together as a club, with more meetings and outside events. I think there wasn't enough time to plan when we had our meetings so far apart and sometimes ideas would not fully get the attention they deserved.

What’s your leadership philosophy?    My leadership philosophy is to always move forward but enjoy it along the way. It is important to set goals and work towards them and being able to be flexible to navigate roadblocks that may be in the way. But it is also important to keep in mind that you are serving as a leader to other people. It is important to enjoy what you are doing because I believe that is reflected in your work. If you love what you are doing and feel inspired by it, it inspires the people you are leading.