Spotlight on Student Leaders: Mentors

Contributed by Kelly Murray and Samantha Rich

For awhile now NCSU Libraries Special Collections Research Center has been chronicling the lives of former NC State student leaders by gathering oral histories of alumni who held prominent leadership roles on campus and within the state. The list of interviewees has included past Student Body Presidents, Student Senate presidents, Technician editors, and Student Senators, among others. Known as the Student Leadership Initiative, the project explores how students have lived, studied, and worked on campus and how their experiences here have shaped their lives and careers following graduation.
[caption id="attachment_1371" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Dr. Thomas Stafford"] [/caption]
In many of these interviews, alumni describe mentors from their time as students and recall how they supported them in their leadership roles. Interviewees have repeatedly mentioned campus administrators such as Dr. Thomas Stafford and Evelyn Reiman as influential mentors: sources of both encouragement and knowledge. Recently, staff members from Special Collections sat down with these two to learn what it was like for them to serve as mentors to so many students over the years.

During his interview, Dr. Stafford , vice chancellor for Student Affairs, described how his “Students First!” motto has influenced his administrative decisions and interactions with students. For Dr. Stafford, putting students first meant attending Student Senate meetings, often late into the night, and ensuring that the university only implemented programs beneficial to students. As a former NC State student, Dr. Stafford has a unique perspective on campus life. He recalled his own time at State as well as many experiences working with student leaders as an administrator, including Whil Piavis and Jenny Chang . Altogether, Dr. Stafford worked alongside twenty-six student body presidents during his time at NC State. Although Dr. Stafford is soon retiring from his position as vice chancellor, students can continue to expect to see him hosting Memorial Tower tours and serving NC State in other capacities.

Evelyn Reiman , associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs, also served as a mentor and adviser to many former NC State students. As the founder of the Center for Student Leadership, Ethics & Public Service , and the NC State Women’s Center , Ms. Reiman has interacted with and aided many student leaders since her arrival on campus in 1979. During her interview, she illustrated some of the striking differences between NC State then and now, such as the changing face of Hillsborough Street and increased diversity. She also discussed her position as NC State’s first staff member responsible for Women’s Student Programming as well as the evolution of her work on campus, students’ memorable community service projects, and her hopes for NC State in the future.

These interviews will soon be available in the Student Leaders Oral Histories Collection at the Special Collections Research Center at NCSU Libraries.

To learn more about the Libraries’ Student Leadership Initiative or former NC State student leaders, please visit Historical State .