The "Meet Your Student Leaders" series provides graduate students and postdoctoral fellows an opportunity to get to know the students who run the various graduate student organizations at UAB.

Q: What is your name, age and program of study?

A: “Sade Williams, 24, and I’m a doctoral student in the CMDB Theme of GBS.”

Q: What is your role within the organization?

A: “Parliamentarian, Chair of Constitution Committee.”

Q: What responsibilities does that role entail?

A: “Ensure the constitution is up-to-date and that all meetings are run in an organized, effective manner.”

Q: How much time do you dedicate to the organization?

A: “The executive committee meets three times a month. I also have constitution committee meetings scheduled throughout the year.”

Q: How are you benefitting from this leadership position? How will it help you achieve your future career goals? What are you learning from this role?

A: “Being in a leadership position teaches you responsibility and accountability, both of which are very valuable traits to apply to your career.”

Q: Why should graduate students get involved in student organizations?

A: “Everyone should have an extracurricular activity that gets them away from their studies. Getting involved also lets you make a difference.”

Q: Why should graduate students get involved in leadership positions within those student organizations?

A: “Being in a leadership position allows you to have some say so in what that organization does and stand for, which is important.”

Q: How do you balance being a graduate student with the responsibilities that come from this leadership position?

A: “Having time management skills is key.”

Q: What else do you do?

A: “I am a Women in Science Mentor, in the GBS Curriculum Committee, on the Admissions Committee for CMDB and the Secretary of GCAT.”