Name: Audrey Todd
Campus: California State University Northridge (CSUN)
Expected Graduation Year: Spring 2023
Degree Program: Biotechnology
Current Officer Role(s): Chapter President
I joined NSCS in April of 2021. At the time, the CSUN chapter was not very active, and it was hard to connect with other members since everything was still virtual due to COVID-19. When the chapter operations manager reached out to me in October of 2021 with an opportunity to join the CSUN NSCS officer board as Professional Development Chair, I decided to take on this position as a way to connect more with the chapter. Unexpectedly, shortly after I joined, the chapter president resigned, and I was asked if I would be interested in filling this vacancy.
I had not originally intended to become chapter president when I joined the officer board. I also knew that it would be challenging to revive the chapter after over a year of inactivity. However, I knew that I would gain invaluable experience as a leader by learning how to recruit and engage members in order to serve the university and the surrounding community. I accepted the position and have never regretted this decision.
Since becoming chapter president, I have recruited an almost full officer board, and together we have hosted the first chapter induction ceremony since 2019, held general body meetings, and begun a letter-writing campaign in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association. I have learned the importance of teamwork and diligence in rebuilding a chapter.
The most unexpected reward of being an officer has been the opportunity to network with peers from other organizations on campus. From leadership conferences to meeting collaborations, it has been inspiring to see what other student leaders are doing in this post-virtual era. I have learned a lot and forged friendships.
NSCS has opened several other doors for me, such as being able to apply for officer and STEM-related scholarships. Most importantly, I believe that my time as an undergraduate NSCS member has provided me with the professionalism and skill set that is necessary to succeed in the workforce.
I will be matriculating into medical school this upcoming summer. I plan to eventually enter a career in academic medicine, where I will treat patients, teach/mentor students, and conduct research. I also plan to travel broadly and continue my hobbies of piano, dance, and yoga.
If you are an undergraduate student who is on the fence about joining your chapter’s leadership team, I can tell you from my experience that being a leader is not as scary as it may sound. It mainly entails working with a team to boost the morale of members and provide them with fun and helpful experiences.
For newly inducted NSCS undergraduate members in general, my advice is to take advantage of the events hosted by your chapter to become more connected. More importantly, college is an exciting time to learn about what interests you and develop into the person you wish to be in the future. Stay open, be curious, work hard, and have fun!
