Leadership Highlight: Lemoyne-Owen College’s Student Government President Elizabeth Shaw

In an effort to highlight the people who are leading colleges and universities across the nation, we at Watch The Yard reached out to Lemoyne-Owen College  and did an interview with Elizabeth Shaw, the 2024-2025 Student Government Association president.

The position of SGA president is a highly respected role, and there is a special pride in being elected by peers to lead. Elizabeth Shaw, who is majoring in social work, is from Memphis and is a proud Fall 24 initiate of Alpha Kappa Alpha.

We interviewed Elizabeth Shaw and talked to her about her position, goals, future, and what it means to hold this type of leadership position in 2024-2025.

Read the full interview below.

What is the biggest thing you’ve learned as an SGA president so far?

The biggest thing I have learned so far as SGA President is learning to compromise, be empathetic, but also listen before responding.

What made you decide to attend Lemoyne-Owen College for undergrad?

I wanted to attend an institution that felt like home and more importantly purse becoming a social worker. I’ve seen so many great people come from this institution and I wanted to be apart of the magic it brings out of students.

How has Lemoyne-Owen College molded you into the person you are today?

LeMoyne Owen College has given me so many opportunities in connecting with various people all over in order to succeed in future endeavors but more importantly how to advocate for others and myself.

What specific initiatives have you headed up this year (or are planning), and how do you think they will improve the school and surrounding community?

My biggest focus this year has been to amplify student voice in different meetings, on committees or at various functions. This year, the SGA worked on ensuring that the administration knew student concerns/ recommendations, especially in situations where we did not feel like we were being heard. As a college that is student-focused, this ensures that student well-being is at the forefront of the minds of decision-makers. Beyond that, my team and I have worked on engaging more alumni and professionals in the Memphis area. This allows students greater exposure to those who passed through the institution and those who are able to guide and mentor them.

How is your SGA administration/school currently working on attending to the mental health of students?

Mental health plays a major part in all aspects of life even more so in college students. We plan on working with the councilors at the school and help engage more students in Mindful Monday with simple affirmations and support.

What does leadership mean to you?

Personally, leadership is tied to service. I’ve been trusted by students to both represent and work for them but also become more empathetic in listening. It involves being authentic, humble and willing to stand for what I believe are in the best interests of those I serve. Leadership also requires a level of steadfastness in my core values and looking beyond an official title to inspire and work towards a clearly-defined vision. Finally, a huge part of leadership is passion and impact. Passion because if I have not personally bought into the SGA goals, no one else will. Impact because at the end of the day, I would hope that the person who steps into the role after me is both inspired and has the opportunity to build on the foundations that many before me have achieved.

We now live in a digital world, what do you think schools need to do to represent themselves online in 2025?

Colleges will now have to meet students where they are, and that is in the digital space. It would serve colleges well to have their communications team focus on building a robust social media presence across different platforms. For many students, it is their primary way to receive information (as opposed to emails or more paper-based options) and it would work well for colleges to capitalize on this shift.

Why do you think Watch The Yard is important to Black students and college culture?

Watch The Yard brings news and updates about Black colleges. This is vital because the culture we represent is rich and deserves to be highlighted. Having a platform which is dedicated to representing the shared experience of Black students provides longevity and an opportunity to archive these contributions.

What do you plan on doing after graduation?

After graduation I plan on moving to Washington DC and continue my education at another HBCU where I can obtain my MSW(Master Social Work).

We at Watch The Yard would like to commend Elizabeth Shaw for her work as the SGA president of Lemoyne-Owen College.

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