Patrick Vaughn has served in a variety of leadership roles throughout his four years at 窪蹋勛圖厙, but perhaps none fit him so aptly as his current position: vice president of student life.
Though it may be his official title on the Undergraduate Student Government, it also seems like it could be a fitting unofficial designation for someone who is constantly involved in all aspects of student life.
Outside of class and student activitiesthats pretty much it for me. Theyre my interests, Vaughn said.
But those interests are plenty.
The senior chemistry majorwho is on the pre-dental track, has a minor in dance and is working toward minors in biology and medical anthropologydoesnt only serve as USGs VP of Student Life. He dances in the Indian and African student groups. Hes a supplemental instructor for calculus courses. He is the founder and chair of the Student Interfaith Board. He is the past-chair of USGs diversity and inclusion committeea committee he helped create his first year at 窪蹋勛圖厙. He is among the students helping re-energize Share the Vision and its idealsincluding speaking at Friday's eventand this year he was honored with Share the Visions Student Leadership Award. Those are just a few of the activities in which he takes part. The list could go on. And on.
At the moment, though, Vaughns focus is on improving the lives of other students at 窪蹋勛圖厙. This year, USG implemented a new online forum for students to express their concerns; Vaughn hopes that, by the end of the year, they will have considered each persons concern.
His desire to improve life on campus aligns well with his career aspirations as well. After completing dental schoolfor which hes now applyinghe hopes to spend time in underdeveloped nations providing dental care and oral hygiene education to others, in an attempt to improve their health and well-being.
I just want to help people, really, he said. Thats it.
Read more about the Detroit native in this weeks five questions.
1. What are you readingand how are you reading it (print vs. digital)?
I dont have a lot of time to read, but Ive probably read the ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools 30 times, front to back. It has tips for applications and interviewing and what student groups are available to dental students, so I read it every week for interviews. Its in print.
I actually dont really read online, and right now I cant: I dont have a computer right now because its broken, and I dont even have a smartphone.
2. What cant you live without?
I noticed this yesterday at a group meeting: I wasnt allowed to talk, and I was horrible at it. I just kept talking. So talking definitely is something I couldnt live without. I think my ability to talk provides me with a lot of entertainment. For example, on my plane rides to interviews for dental school, I keep myself occupied by talking to people around me, and I actually make real connections with them. I think that without the ability to talk, I would feel very inhibited.
3. Whats your favorite spot on campus?
The Mather Dance Centerpartly because I have experienced a lot of self-growth within the building, but also because I feel the most amount of community on campus there. Were a really small department, just a year old, and you can just really feel the family aspect when youre in the center. Whenever something good happensor something badsomeone is always there. Its where I know Ill always have backup.
4. Whats the best advice youve ever received?
Melanie Scanlon in Office of Student Activities and Leadershipwho is one of my greatest role models and closest friendstold me recently to be fearless in all aspects of my life. I go after things all the time here on campus, but there are certain things Im not as confident in, like my interviews. So she told me to be fearless and just go for it.
5. Whats your favorite thing about 窪蹋勛圖厙?
Id say two things: I love our tagline of think beyond the possible. I think its an accurate description of what a student can do on our campus. Who would have thought Id be able to be a chemistry/pre-dental student but also focus in dance? I think a lot of students have similar experiences in so many different ways. There are so many amazing opportunities available here.
I think the reason people have those options to do so much is because of the people. The faculty and staff here encourage us to explore so many options and push us to do different things, and allowing us to do that is really beneficial. And then there are the studentsthe ones who have come before us and the ones paving the way right now so future students can keep doing all of these different things and growing in all aspects of their life. Its amazing.