There is no single way to define leadership. The MU community turns to peers and professors for leadership, as well as our professors and administrators. Leaders don’t always have a title, a paycheck or a corner office.

As Women’s History Month events come to a close at MU, The Maneater sat down with a vice chancellor, peer educators, student government leaders, a resource coordinator and two professors. These women make up only a fraction of the prominent women leaders on campus. They were asked about their experiences, advice and thoughts on being a woman in a leadership position. Here’s what they had to say:

**LeChae Mottley, Senior, Journalism**
_President of the Legion of Black Collegians_

Photo of LeChae MottleyMarilyn Haigh/Staff photographer

_What challenges have you faced as LBC President?_

(With) all the things that are happening in the United States as far as police brutality against black and brown bodies, it’s always kind of difficult to see where you fit in within that, you know what as LBC can we do. During the listening session we had with the administration, I kind of realized that it was more what I see our role as is making sure that the campus climate here is progressing and getting better as far as race is concerned. Definitely when they opened it up, they wanted people to talk about Ferguson, but it really ended up being about how we feel as black students or students of color at Mizzou. I think from there I kind of realized that was probably where LBC fits, to be advocating for students here.

_You were elected in April, so you’ve held office for almost a year now. What kind of growth have you seen in yourself since then?_

I would say I’ve learned to relax a little. When you run for any office, you have this idea of how you want things to run … I’m a student, I’m working with students, we’re all students. So it can go really well … but it can’t be perfect. So I think kind of trying to relax about that has probably been something I’ve learned I have to do for my own sanity.

_What kind of legacy do you hope to leave on campus?_

I want people to (realize) leadership looks different for each individual … you don’t have to be a super outgoing person to be a leader, it’s really about the work you put in and how you delegate and how you inspire people.​ Also, just welcoming people that have a different identity than you. That’s probably something the whole campus could do a little better of.

**Struby Struble**
_Coordinator, MU LGBTQ Resource Center_

Photo of Struby StrubleMarilyn Haigh/Staff photographer

_What have you learned about your style of leadership in your role with the LGBTQ Resource Center?_

I’ve definitely learned the importance of vulnerability and acknowledging my weaknesses and my growth edges. I think that when you have titled leadership like “coordinator” or “chair” or whatever, there’s a lot of pressure to know everything and that often I think leads leaders to act as if we know everything when we don’t know everything. We’ll do our best when we’re genuine and honest with the people around us.

_What kind of challenges do you think women leaders specifically face?_

I think one of the most blatant (challenges) that we see playing out on campus and in our world all the time is that the exact same qualities in a man seen as leadership is seen in a woman as a bitch. You’re strong, you’re powerful, you speak up, you do what needs to be done, you don’t let people take advantage of you and in a man, it’s like “God, he’s awesome! Let’s make him president!” and in a woman, it’s like “What a bitch.”

I think we need to be aware that while we’re capable of the same things, the world sees our abilities in different lights and values them differently. I think for each individual woman there has to be a lot of balance of thinking about … my end goal. Is my end goal to prove women can do as much as men, because we know that that’s true, it’s just that people don’t recognize it? Or is my end goal to get what I’m working toward. Because I think that sadly, the reality of our world is that we have to work within the systems at play … (Because I’m a woman,) I have to package it in a different way. Which is not something I enjoy, but depending on what the end goal is, if I have to package it to get the end goal.

_What can we do to create an environment more welcoming to women leaders?_
I think the less we can define people by their gender the better … there are more than two genders, it’s more than just man and woman, it’s much more complicated than that. No man does man the same as any other man and no woman does woman the same as any other woman. I think the more we can put everybody as humans and making it based on who we actually are as opposed to this arbitrary identity is really important … in policy, systematically, administratively we need to make it less gender-specific but when we’re working with individual people we need to acknowledge that those gender roles are still placed on us and how we work within them.

**Kelsey Burns, Senior, Psychology**
_Presentation Coordinator for RSVP Educators, Teaching Assistant for the Peer Educators Class_

_What advice would you give young people who aren’t sure how to get involved?_

I think I would challenge people to not just get involved with things relevant to their major … Challenge yourself and get involved with things you’re not comfortable in. You only can grow and learn from being in a space around people you wouldn’t necessarily hang out with regularly and I think that’s the coolest thing because when you’re around people that aren’t like you per se, whatever that means, I feel like that’s when you grow the most, that’s when you really know what you’re passionate about.

_In your opinion, how open is the environment for women leaders on campus?_

Being a woman leader isn’t hard per se on Mizzou’s campus. What I will say, is that a lot of the issues that a lot of women find themselves being passionate about, especially in the social justice community, are things that are already just not supported as a whole by society … I think just understanding, really putting yourself in another person’s shoes and understanding why so many women are involved in the RSVP Center and not men. It’s a very obvious answer why. It’s because those are the people that are disproportionately affected by this stuff and just understanding that and being supportive of that and being willing to be open to hearing their voices and what their concerns are is a great first step.

_After four years here, how have you seen the environment change?_

Well with these issues, relationship and sexual violence prevention, this was not being talked about as much even when I was a freshman. The educators program was smaller, there weren’t as many people requesting programs, (but) this was still just as much of an issue … This is a really big topic and it’s because you can’t deny the number and the statistics. I think that once people started realizing that, it just blew up. I think honestly that if I wasn’t at Mizzou at this time I might not be as involved as I am now because this ended up being the stuff I was passionate (about) and it’s becoming such a big deal right now. I don’t know, it stinks that it’s this topic and I feel so honored that I got to be on this campus at this time … I’ve been working with a lot of other amazing women and men from all different grades, all different majors who just care about this stuff, and want to bring (it) to our campus.

**Brenda Smith-Lezama, Junior, Journalism**
_Vice President of MSA, member of Delta Delta Delta, former Miss Missouri Teen USA_

Photo of Brenda Smith-LezamaMarilyn Haigh/Staff photographer

_What have you learned about leadership in your roles on campus?_

The very first thing I did when I stepped on campus was join the Chancellor’s Leadership Class. That was a really cool environment because it was a group of leaders who all lead in different ways. I was able to see that leadership doesn’t necessarily mean being the one that everyone follows. Sometimes leadership means taking a step back and being the follower. Sometimes being a leader means being a support system for someone else. That was the first time that I really realized that leadership is multi-faceted.

_How do you know when it’s best to lead by taking a step back?_

For me, I know it’s time to step up when I’m the best one for the job. If I feel like there are other people leading who are capable of doing a better job than me, I will take a step back, but I think that it’s all about timing. You have to be ready personally. You have to be ready for the time commitment; you have to be ready emotionally, because sometimes being a leader can be very taxing emotionally. Just being in this office I feel like I’m always being pulled every which way, so it’s something you really have to be prepared for.

_How have your experiences in pageants influenced the way you look at leadership?_

Being in pageants was something that really changed who I was as a person. Prior to stepping on stage, I was a very shy, very reserved girl. I wasn’t someone who necessarily felt comfortable being in the spotlight all the time … I loved the power that it gave me, I loved the confidence that it helped build in me. During those five minutes that I was on the stage I felt like I could take on the world. I felt like I was so confident, and that confidence radiated from me. When I watch those videos I can see the transformation.

**Cathy Scroggs**
_Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs_

_How would you describe your style of leadership?_

I hope it’s collaborative. I like to get input from everybody. I like ideas; I like to get all different perspectives on an issue.

_What have you learned throughout your time as a leader at MU?_

(I’ve learned) how important communication is and how important it is to listen. Listen for people’s opinions and thoughts, but also to listen for how they’re feeling and all those things that are unspoken as well.

_Do you think MU is a hospitable environment for women leaders?_

That’s a trick question. I’ve never had any difficulty as a woman leader here. I’ve been given many opportunities and they’ve usually been given to me by men. I think we are hospitable to women.

_There are only two women deans of colleges at MU. Do you have any thoughts on that?_

Well, I suspect that we have a provost that’s going to work hard at finding more women to be deans.

_What do you think students can do to encourage woman leadership on campus?_

I hear some women say that students sometimes defer to men who are in front of a classroom over women. I think students could remember that the faculty who are teaching them are excellent faculty and their gender is just part of who they are.

**Kathleen Trauth, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering**
_Director of the Women in Engineering Center_

_What is your role in the Women in Engineering Center?_

I started working formally with our women students back in 2006 and became the faculty adviser for the Society of Women Engineers in 2007… I started to work with the students in the Society of Women Engineers trying to support them in their activities, celebrate the fact that they are here in the college and help them with their outreach and their professional development activities.

About a year ago, we received information that there might be a private anonymous donor to provide some funds that would be able to support an effort focused on our women students. At that time, I started to develop an outline for having a Women in Engineering Center; it was OK’d in the summer and we launched the program this February.

_What has your role with the center taught you about leadership?_

This has really come from the bottom up. It’s something I’m passionate about and people knew about that, so I was active and tried to work with the students. Over time, people in the College came to expect that I was the person to go to regarding issues with women in engineering … I’ve worked on it for a long time and built up the credibility that when the time came for us to have this center that I was the right person to lead it.

**Michelle Murphy**
_Senior Coordinator for Leadership and Service_

_What is the Center of Leadership and Service?_

We have a multi-faceted program that really focuses on providing a variety of opportunities for students to practice or learn more about leadership development, and provide direct service opportunities for those individuals in the hopes that we’re inspiring active citizenship both while they’re here at Mizzou and beyond.

_Would you say you’re teaching leadership or teaching by doing?_

I really see us as providing a variety of educational opportunities. We help facilitate that process but students are learning by doing. Almost all of our programs are student volunteer-led. We also have classes and ongoing leadership series that do help educate students. We might give them a topic to reflect on and then we’ll talk through that.

_What are some qualities you see in good leaders?_

I think authenticity in a leader is really important so someone who is true to themselves, they’re not trying to be someone different. I do think also that people can tell when you’re not genuine. Someone who exhibits leadership qualities and characteristics is able to motivate others in some way shape or form … Also someone who is not afraid to dive in and to help and to model the way. Someone who is not always just barking orders, but If I’m going to ask you to pick up trash, I would be willing to, too. Not just someone who talks the talk but also someone who walks the walk.

**Sarah Billingsly, Senior, Health Sciences and Psychology**
_SHAPE president, Communications Coordinator for the Peer Educators Program with the RSVP Center, Student Coordinator for the Residential Life Ambassador program_

Photo of Sarah BillingslyMarilyn Haigh/Staff photographer

_How did you become a leader on campus?_

It didn’t come easily. And it didn’t come swiftly. I was not enthusiastic or involved or engaged my freshman year. I was with a couple of things but not with what I am now. It came slowly and surely, and with a lot of encouragement and help from people I care about. I got involved with the RSVP Center peer-educator program my sophomore year and from there got involved with the SHAPE program. As I started to learn more about the things I’m passionate about, wanting to step up and take on leadership roles in them kind of came naturally with a lot of encouragement from my supervisors and my peers.

_What kind of advice would you give someone who isn’t exactly sure where they fit in?_

Try everything. Just go to the random workshop that this org you’ve never heard of is having. Go to a meeting for an organization that you’re not really sure about; learn about something that you might be passionate about and follow the things that light your heart on fire. Follow the things that just make you care and make you sad or hurt or — I love saying that phrase — just the things that light you on fire. The things that make you want to affect change and work toward things. And that will take a bit of trial and error, that’ something I’ve learned. My passions have changed and adapted.

_Do you ever have conflict over when it’s best to step up and lead or lead by letting others take control?_

Constantly. I have a very strong personality. I am outgoing and in your face. I am a control freak. That has been the hardest thing for me personally, knowing how to lead effectively in a situation even if that means taking a step back and not doing anything. Or doing something that’s completely out of my comfort zone. That’s probably the hardest thing I’ve had to vibe with as a leader is knowing when leading means not doing what I’m used to.

**Hallie Thompson, Graduate Student, Division of Plant Sciences**
_President of the Graduate Professional Council_

_What is your style of leadership?_

My style of leadership is changing all the time. I wouldn’t say I’m adaptive leadership but my personality works perfectly for adaptive leadership in that I love change. When things are happening and people suggest new things, I am all about it as long as I can see that it would be beneficial and that change would be for the best. I like to hear what other people have to say; I don’t like to make those snap decisions but I can if I have to.

_What kind of challenges do you think women leaders face?_

I was a Sue Shear Fellow back in 2011. The Sue Shear Fellows are selected from all the public universities in the state of Missouri. There are four from each of the public universities and it’s only women leaders who are somewhat interested in policy. We learn a lot about challenges for women in leadership and policy … women are just as effective if not more effective once we’re in that position because we have a lot of empathy. A lot of emotional intelligence, and emotional intelligence is so important in your success as a leader … we have a little bit of an issue I guess with saying exactly what we want because that’s seen as aggressive but I have no problem with that because I hang out in a mostly male field.

_What can we do to encourage more women leaders?_

I think it’s important for everybody to encourage everybody because if you’re a good leader and you would be good at the job, it doesn’t matter what your gender is. It doesn’t matter what you look like. Sometimes we think of leadership as more of a male role … we’ve known male leadership for so long, and we’ve known a certain type of leadership for so long. Anything that challenges that type of leadership is harder to accept.

**Monika Fischer, associate professor of German**
_Associate Director of the Honors College, Director for MU Global Connect_

_Do you think of yourself as a leader on campus?_

I’ve always had a hard time with (the word) leader. I saw a teenager in the ’60s and ’70s with the entire authority movement. I look at (my) leadership (style) more as directing, helping, meeting the students, giving them some ideas for the future … That’s not quite leading; I think that’s more counseling, that’s more where I see my position here. In the Honors College I’m primarily working with study abroad and helping students. I’ve travelled a lot so I can pass that on.

_How do you balance guidance with leadership in the classroom?_

Someone definitely has to lead the class but I also have taught many foreign languages courses so we are used to trying to teach when the class is student centered so it’s not so much that upfront is the person who knows it all and lectures. It all depends on the class … I like to try to get the students involved and have them work in groups on a topic and I bring them together. It sometimes works well and it sometimes doesn’t work well, it depends a lot on the students. It’s not just the professor, it’s the student dynamic — how they work with each other.

_What do you think of the environment for women leaders?_

_(Answered over email)_ I was all day wondering why I am so uncomfortable with the word leader — well, it dawned on me that I would never use it in German since it means “Führer” and is associated with Hitler — ‘mein Führer’ means ‘my leader’. I do think women should be sharing leading roles with men in order to have any say in our current society. However, just by moving into current leader/leading roles does not mean we become a more just and equal society. Our power structures also need to change in order to move towards a peaceful world. For the most part, leading is still about power. And power corrupts, as the old saying goes, no matter what gender or race or ethnicity.