Fall graduate Emilia Gilbert found a way to translate her experiences working with student organizations to her current job.
Gilbert, a Union program coordinator, is a former Black Culture Committee chairperson, Union Programming Council president, LSU Ambassador and Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority president.
Now, Gilbert is the adviser for the Black Culture Committee, Music and Mayhem Committee and Homecoming Committee. She also is responsible for contacting acts and coordinating events for the committees she advises.
Gilbert said she first got involved in student organizations as a freshman at the urging of the resident assistant at her dorm.
“A bunch of girls from my floor all started coming to Black Culture Committee meetings,” Gilbert said.
Gilbert became the committee chairperson in 2001 and oversaw the creation of Spring Fest, a Greek event showcasing “step shows” performed by predominantly black fraternities and sororities.
“I think one of the things I am most proud of is Spring Fest. It recruits minority students to the University and it gives the students who are here something to look forward to,” Gilbert said.
JoAnn Doolos, the Union’s Associate Director of Programs, said the coordinator position unexpectedly became available this semester.
Doolos said that she was lucky to have someone with Gilbert’s experience fill the position.
“I expect her to bring a lot of enthusiasm to the position and encourage students to get involved,” Doolos said.
Doolos also said that Gilbert brings a lot of leadership to the position.
Gilbert said, “I think people should come out of college prepared to work with people and learn the skills you can’t learn in the classroom. For me, that was in programming.”
Gilbert said she wanted to stay at LSU because it has became home to her over the past few years.
As an undergraduate at LSU, Gilbert received numerous awards. She was an Alpha Kappa Alpha leadership fellow in 2002, a member of the “Leadership LSU” class of 2002, on the Homecoming Court in 2003 and one of the “Tiger 12” in 2003.
Gilbert said she is excited about the programs the UPC has planned this semester.
“I would like to see the committees continue to grow, the student leaders continue to grow and I guess for me to continue to grow too,” Gilbert said.
Gilbert said she encourages everyone to get involved on campus and believes involvement is one of the most important aspects of attending college.
“Personally, I think that I have grown infinitely because of my involvement as a student. I don’t know what kind of person I would be like if I hadn’t been involved in student organizations,” Gilbert said.
Doolos said she was most excited about the guidance Gilbert can provide to student volunteers.
“She is a mentor to students on campus, I know she’ll bring that to the job,” Doolos said.