Student Leadership Recognition

Michael Dion ‘24- is a senior math and secondary education double major from East Haven, CT. Michael is involved in numerous programs, clubs, and organizations, most notably Campus Ministry, Peer Ministry, and Admissions Ambassadors. Additionally, Michael has served as a Senior Admissions Fellow this year.

Peer Ministry is a student-to-student ministry focused on prayer, reflection, and authentic Christian community. Participants join a small group of fellow students who meet biweekly to discuss the joys and challenges of their college experiences and faith. Additionally, Campus Ministry is the largest student organization at PC. It has dozens of ministries, offering students opportunities for fellowship, service, deeper engagement with the faith, prayer, and worship. Students of all faiths or none are invited to participate. Campus Ministry works closely with Dominican friars and lay ministers who act as spiritual resources to the campus community.

Michael is described by Allyse Gruslin in his roles as Peer Ministry Coordinator and student director of the first-year Connections retreat as displaying “patience, diligence, and competence in all areas of leadership,” all while juggling student teaching and his senior year course load. Michael is also described by JP Manning as “consistently exemplifying positivity, humility, joy, a commitment to his Catholic faith, and service to the Friar Family,” and as an individual who goes above and beyond any expectation of him and works tirelessly “for the sake of others.”

During his tenure at Providence College, as mentioned, Michael has been extremely involved in Peer and Campus Ministries. A highlight Michael describes during his time at PC was organizing and leading the Connections retreat. He says, “Watching the nearly 80 freshman who attended the retreat interact with one another, meet their small group leaders, and build friendships over the weekend was one of the best moments of my entire PC career.”

In his leadership roles, Michael hopes to continue serving others. He shares his aspirations for Peer Ministry moving forward are to witness “the program’s community continue to flourish and see many of the current and upcoming Peer Ministers lead their small groups to the best of their God-given potential.” He also says that he has “so much faith that Peer Ministry will continue to grow long after my time at PC comes to an end.”

Board of Multicultural Student Affairs (BMSA)- This organization is a student organization that represents several student clubs at Providence College focused on promoting diversity, inclusion, and advocacy on campus. BMSA strives to serve as a channel of resources, support, leadership, and vitality, functioning as the umbrella organization that oversees clubs such as African American Society (Afro-Am), Armenian Society, Asian American Society (Asian-Am), Circolo Italiano,  Gaelic Society,  Organization of Latin American Students (OLAS), Portuguese Alliance of Lusophone Students (PALS), Providence Immigrant Right Coalition (PIRC), Students Organized Against Racism (SOAR), International Students Organization (ISO), Motherland Dance Group, & Women Empowered (WE).

Current BMSA representatives are Cali Keovongsavang, Yolanda Lewis, Giavaya Harris, and Zekar-Yah Henry. Cali, a sophomore marketing major, describes their role inside of BMSA as “Connecting our committees and the execs of all the clubs under us to fulfill our mission and goals.” One highlight she describes from her leadership role inside the organization is the monthly meetings, where the BMSA executive board meets with representatives from each of the clubs. She says that although the group is comprised of student leaders who find themselves “under pressure” due to their various responsibilities including extracurriculars and coursework, it is a time for them to “hang out and work towards places we all want to learn and grow.”

Recently, BMSA held their Students & Alumni of Color Brunch, where members of the Providence College community are able to connect and reunite with one another. Cali shares that this event provides students with the opportunity to “embrace and learn about where BMSA has grown and where we want to plant or rediscover traditions.”

BMSA is eager to keep growing its membership and continue expanding its presence on campus. Cali concludes by saying, “At the end of the day everyone has culture, and we want to explore and embrace it.” All PC students, inclusive of race, ethnicity, gender identity, orientation, nationality, citizenship status, and ability are greatly encouraged to apply.

To learn more about BMSA, visit @pc_bmsa on Instagram.

Black and White Ball- Occurred on Friday, March 22nd in Peterson. This event was a semi-formal dance created and run by executive board members of the Board of Programmers, specifically Spencer Johnson, Jessica Slaton, Sam Pierre-Louis, and Myles Johnson. Spencer, an English major with a political science and Black studies double minor, describes Black and White Ball’s organizers’ roles inside the dance, including the planning, organization, and execution to involve as many students as possible from all four years in the Providence College community to attend the dance.

Black and White Ball included music by DJ Finesse, appetizers, and a beer garden for students over the age of 21. The music specifically was a student favorite, which led to most of the gym spending the majority of the evening on the dance floor. BOP’s executive board feels that Black and White Ball was “a culmination of our leadership and experience because we have all been on BOP since the beginning of our sophomore year.”

Spencer describes the highlight of this event as “seeing our vision come to life on such a grand scale.” Although these executive board members are seniors, they hope to use their “platform to promote class and service events in the future” to further make a positive impact on the Providence College community.