As an undergraduate psychology major at MSU, Alexis Wallace anticipated eventually opening her own private counseling practice. But being a part of the Montgomery Leadership Program helped her realize a passion for a variety of service opportunities, particularly within the context of higher education.
鈥淚 loved that experience with MLP because you reflect on yourself as an individual, as a member of a group, and then as someone who has a role in helping a community,鈥 Wallace said.
As a graduate assistant pursuing a master鈥檚 in higher education at MSU, Wallace later worked with the university鈥檚 alternative spring break program and solidified her love for service while working alongside other college students in the Mississippi Delta.
鈥淚 thought 鈥業 really want to continue to do this,鈥欌 said the Louisville native who earned her master鈥檚 degree in 2018 after completing her bachelor鈥檚 in 2016.
Her first professional role took her to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she continued working with alternative spring break projects. Her stint out West was a time of growth and increasing confidence, but when she had the opportunity to return to her alma mater at the beginning of 2020, she didn鈥檛 hesitate.
Wallace said she enjoyed about three months of 鈥渘ormalcy鈥 in her MSU role as assistant director for Student Leadership and Community Engagement before the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated operational changes and 鈥渙utside-of-the-box鈥 ideas rather than many traditional activities.
Leaders and student volunteers looked for ways to serve through the Maroon Volunteer Center such as writing letters or making items to donate to various organizations. Wallace is looking forward to resuming her favorite hands-on events, such as Service DAWGS (Donating A Wonderful Gift of Service) Day.
鈥淥ur students do a beautiful job with service, and they have an innate desire for learning and solving problems, along with true passion and grit. Our office helps give them the tools for understanding social issues, but I remind them they don鈥檛 have to take on the world鈥攁ny action is an action toward change,鈥 Wallace said.
From coastal cleanup to community gardening to Habitat for Humanity building projects and youth development programs, Wallace said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 all meaningful work, and as long as I鈥檓 doing that, I鈥檓 happy.鈥
She emphasized that she wants MSU students to, first, 鈥渇eel like they belong,鈥 and next, 鈥渇eel like they have work to do in these communities.鈥
鈥淚鈥檓 a product of this institution and a product of learning that occurred in these same spaces,鈥 she said. 鈥淣ow, I consider how can I enhance these experiences for today鈥檚 students.鈥
Read more about Wallace and others with a passion for volunteerism at
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