Leigh Nelson

Background

About Leigh Nelson

I gained many formative experiences during my time as an undergrad at Clemson University. I was uncertain what I would do with a sociology degree, but I enjoyed the content of what I was learning and I wanted to apply in a manner that would help people. My time as a resident assistant opened up a world to me that I never knew I was interested in. I enjoyed planning community events, collaborating with fellow RAs, and acting a resource that residents could rely on. I also held a work-study position at the Clemson library and that was the beginning of my interest in library work. While I enjoyed these positions they didn't point me in the direction of a career path that I wanted to pursue. I applied to Peace Corps hoping to gain some clarity about career to pursue. I was prepared to begin service in 2020, however the pandemic thwarted those plans. I needed a quick alternative which led me to leverage my previous library experience to work at my local public library. This became another formative experience. I enjoyed the direct community engagement and having an immediate impact in my community. Libraries do very important work and I enjoyed being a part of that. Peace Corps service resumed in 2022, and I was ready to go to Benin. I served as an education volunteer and upon completion of service received my certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language. The culmination of all of these experiences helped me realize that I wanted to work in the domain of student affairs. Acting as a mentor to students, providing resources, and planning activities resonated with me and the work I wanted to do. Reading Partners was a transitionary position that allowed my to do important community work while waiting for my ultimate next step. This work was rewarding as fostering students' literacy skills is of the utmost importance in this day and age. My next step will be attending graduate school. I have been accepted into the University of Maryland's Higher Education Masters program and will pursue my masters in student affairs starting in Fall 2025.