UGA Student Leader Works to Inspire Leadership on Campus
By: Emilie Gille
ATHENS, Ga. – Sitting in the Miller Learner Center, dressed in a t-shirt and athletic shorts, coffee in hand, Alexandra Lutgen looks like any other University of Georgia student studying for their next big test. However, Lutgen balances life as a student with her role as Executive Director of the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH).
NRHH is a leadership based honor society whose main pillars are service and recognition. It represents the top one percent of on-campus students who live in the residence halls. “NRHH is a small organization,” said Lutgen, “but it’s a place where people find where they belong at UGA.”
Though NRHH is small, NRHH makes an impact in the Athens community as well as the UGA community. The organization does two service projects a month, sometimes more, coordinated by NRHH’s Associate Director of Service. This year that role is filled by Lauren Krupczak.
One of the first service programs of the year was a success. NRHH hosted a program, in collaboration with Athens PB&J, at which students assembled peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the local homeless community. Nearly 30 students attended, making over 45 sandwiches to be delivered by Athens PB&J, according to Krupczak.
As the Executive Director of NRHH, Lutgen sits on two executive boards, her own and the Residence Hall Association (RHA) executive board as a liaison for NRHH. She attends weekly meetings for both executive boards, working with several other student leaders to achieve the goals of her organization.
“When you see her at the podium to lead a meeting or at the head of the table, she makes it look so easy and effortless,” said NRHH Advisor Tamara Burke, who has worked with Lutgen for three years. “She does what she needs to do behind the scenes.”
Lutgen hopes to cultivate an environment of leadership on campus through the NRHH executive board and the general body members of NRHH by providing opportunities for development. Working with her executive board, a combination of new and returning individuals, Lutgen puts plans and ideas into action.
“She’s working with you. She’s talking with you. She’s there for you when you need it,” said the current Associate Director of Development Christian Sullivan, who is new to the executive board this year.
Lutgen has acted as a mentor and role model for the new incoming board members, helping them learn all about the ins and outs of their positions, from honing communication skills to brainstorming program ideas.
"She answers all of my questions without hesitation," said Krupczak. "She's someone who guides you and makes sure that you're doing well."
Working with her executive board, Lutgen’s goals for NRHH this year include working to reach more students on campus and providing more leadership opportunities for their members. In addition, Lutgen plans to put a bid in for the chapter to win chapter of the year at the national conference. In the past three years, NRHH here at UGA has won regional chapter of the year twice.
“She has that spark and a passion for what she does,” said Burke. “Alex is going to be the one to take NRHH to the next level.”
Balancing academics, a job, and as many as seven meetings a week, Lutgen gives her all to NRHH on a day-to-day basis. She has spent much of her time at UGA heavily involved in housing, from being an executive board member on Payne Hall community council her first year to being a Resident Assistant for two years. She has been a dedicated member of NRHH, holding a position on the executive board as Associate Director of Membership and Recruitment for two years before becoming Executive Director.
“Alex is a gift,” said Burke. “And I hope we have given her as much as she has given us.”
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