Multiplicity
Elementary education major Kristina White leads in the classroom and on campus across multiple roles
March 18, 2024
March 18, 2024
How many versions of Kristina White are there at 91短视频 State University?
There鈥檚 the junior and .
There鈥檚 the vice president of the Dean鈥檚 Student Advisory Board for the and the student representative on the college鈥檚 strategic planning committee.
There鈥檚 the president of club sports.
And there鈥檚 the social media manager of The 91短视频 State Guardian, the student-run digital newspaper.
Unlike the character played by Michael Keaton in the movie 鈥淢ultiplicity,鈥� in which he cloned himself several times, White fills those roles and more all by herself.
鈥淚 was super involved in high school,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t seemed normal to be busy. I have pretty decent time management. I鈥檓 able to give chunks of my day to organizations, with time to enjoy myself.鈥�
Her current interests have roots in her early childhood.
鈥淢y mom was a high school English teacher,鈥� said White, who is from Lima. 鈥淪he was my biggest role model growing up. I always wanted to be a teacher. Also, I鈥檝e been dancing my entire life, since I was 2. I have a huge passion for that.鈥�
When it came time for post-high-school plans, she looked for schools far enough away to live independently yet close enough to return home easily. 91短视频 State checked that box.
鈥�91短视频 State has a good elementary education program and dance minor,鈥� she said.
White had her eye on another school but when she visited 91短视频 State鈥檚 campus, she loved the size of the university and made her choice.
She has built up her involvement at 91短视频 State. She applied for a position on the Dean鈥檚 Student Advisory Board of the College of Health, Education and Human Services as a first-year student and was accepted as a sophomore and served as its secretary. This year, she is the vice president and will be the board鈥檚 president next academic year.
The board includes 13 student representatives from different years and majors.
鈥淲e plan events for the entirety of the college for students to meet the faculty and each other,鈥� White said.
White has a more singular role on the college鈥檚 strategic planning committee, which has 10 members, including Dean Jim Denniston, Ph.D., the associate dean, department chairs and one student. White said the committee meets about every other week to develop mission and vision statements.
鈥淲hen they talk about students, they look at me for an opinion. I鈥檓 the voice of the students,鈥� she said.
鈥淜ristina demonstrated a passion for learning, and her level of involvement in the institution that is rarely seen in second-year college students,鈥� Denniston said. 鈥淕iven her strong leadership skills and investment in the college, I invited Kristina to serve on the college鈥檚 strategic planning committee. Her input has been instrumental in developing the college鈥檚 first strategic plan and will help shape the future of the college for years to come.鈥�
White is also the president of 91短视频 State鈥檚 17 club sports. She helps manage their budgets, hosts monthly meetings, enforces policies, helps recruit, and, as she said, brainstorms to make the teams as successful as possible.
One of those sports is the 91短视频 State Dance Team, of which she was co-president. She left the Dance Team and joined the Competitive Cheer Team.
White also serves as a member of cohort leadership of the Elementary Education Cohort.
She helps get the word out about campus activities through her role as social media manager for The Guardian.
鈥淚 worked on my high school newspaper, and I was editor-in-chief as a senior,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was offered a writing position with The Guardian, but social media stuck out. I鈥檝e never done that before. I wanted to be part of the newsroom, so I took it.鈥�
White is open and enthusiastic about why she is so involved at 91短视频 State.
鈥淚 do this for personal development,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 just love to know as many people as possible, and when I get an opportunity to join, I like to do it.鈥�
White says that students should make the best of their opportunities on campus.
鈥淚 talk to students about ways to get involved. I tell them to start with one organization to make friends. It makes the college experience better if you know at least one person,鈥� she said.
White expects to graduate in the spring of 2025. She hopes to stay in the Dayton area to teach first or second grade during the day and teach at a dance studio in the evenings.
鈥淎fter a couple of years, I鈥檒l get a master鈥檚 with the hopes of being a school administrator, principal or superintendent,鈥� she said.