Leading by Serving

By: Erin Papakostas ’22

Bri is the recipient of the Thomas B. and John W. Moore Scholarship.

Bri Foster ’22 has never been one to shy away from opportunities. A biology major on the pre-med track, she is the newest president of the Sigma Psi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., nominated and voted in by the chapter, and is learning every day what it means to lead.

“I feel good that they trusted me to have this much responsibility over the future of the chapter,” says the Miami Gardens, Florida native. “I’ve been in this chapter since freshman year, and I’m glad all my hard work has paid off.”

Bri has presided over the chapter for about six months now, and she feels she has struck a balance of commanding respect while also having fun with her friends. She describes her leadership style as fair and understanding.

“I’m not intimidating as a leader, at least amongst my organization,” she says. “I feel like everyone feels comfortable coming to me and having open conversations. But at the end of the day, I still have to make sure everything gets done properly, and we’re hitting the deadlines.”

Even before this newest role, Bri’s leadership résumé was chock-full. She is an RA, a student health advisor, the special events chair for the Black Student Coalition, a Chidsey Leadership Fellow, a Posse Scholar and the student manager for the Alvarez College Union.

And yes, she squeezes in her classes, too.

Every day, Bri earns a deeper understanding of what it means to be a leader among her peers. She prioritizes listening over speaking to make the best decisions.

“Being a leader isn’t just an individual thing; it’s definitely a joint effort,” she says. “I constantly aim to find a happy medium for all.”

Bri appreciates working within the Davidson community to build connections with other organizations on campus and with the community—more people know her on campus because of these roles, and she sees the impact of her leadership, especially on a smaller campus.