PROFILE: UC Student Builds Campus Connections

University of Cincinnati senior and biomedical engineering major Cindy Chiang is working to leave a legacy of leadership to first-year students. She was the student organizer of Camp Bearcat, an overnight retreat for first-year students which was sponsored by Procter & Gamble, UC’s Student Activities and Leadership Development, and Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society of which Chiang is a member.

Chiang’s role in the October retreat evolved from her own experience of connecting with campus, but she adds that national research shows that students who get involved with their universities are also more likely to achieve their degree. “I also realize that a lot of the skills that I developed from being a campus leader will put me above the rest of the job applicants, plus it has made me a more determined and motivated person.”

Chiang has a long list of accomplishments. Chiang just completed her last co-op for Ethicon Endo-Surgery and worked in the biomedical engineering office.

In addition to her challenging academic career, Chiang is a past president of UC’s Panhellenic Council – the governing council of UC’s sororities. The 2002 Homecoming Queen serves as president of the women’s honorary, Cincinnati Women in Excellence and Spirit Together (CWEST); as vice president of the Sigma Phi women’s honorary; and as vice president of Order of Omega, an honorary that recognizes leadership in Greek life. She’s a member of Chi Omega sorority and is active in UC’s Student Alumni Council. Plus, Chiang is working for the UC Office of Admissions, serving as a guide for visitors taking campus tours.

The organizers of the Camp Bearcat leadership institute designed the retreat around four key themes that turned into an acronym for CATS, as Chiang defines below:

• C – Connections -- Building connections between the first-year students and upperclassmen who could serve as their mentors. 
• A – Academics -- “We wanted a retreat that would stimulate intellect and connect academics with campus life.”
• T – Traditions -- “…to build Bearcat pride and spirit for the university.”
• S – Service -- “You need to give back to the community that is helping you grow. This workshop also reinforced UC’s Just Community initiative to new students.

The retreat drew more than a dozen first-year students. As part of the retreat, Chiang says attendees were asked to write a vision statement of what they wanted to accomplish over the year, and who could help them meet their goals. Chiang says organizers are now planning for a one-day follow up during spring quarter to assist the students in planning future goals.

“Cindy is an exceptional campus leader who personifies the word integrity,” says Lucy Croft, director of Student Activities and Leadership Development. “Her passion and school spirit are contagious as evidenced by the countless lives she has touched and the numerous initiatives she has implemented. The University of Cincinnati is a better place because of Cindy Chiang.”