Chelsea Yearwood
Chelsea Yearwood sees leadership as an opportunity to make a difference.
"Leadership is definitely a way of action, not necessarily a position. Leadership is about what you do to make a positive difference, not what you say you are going to do to make a positive difference," Yearwood said. "It's all about actions speaking louder than words and plans."
The Lavonia, Georgia, native held several leadership roles at the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Gainesville Campus. She was finance chair for the Gainesville Campus and served as Student Government Association (SGA) vice president for 2022-23. As a senior, she helped create the "Leave Your Mark" Legacy Boulder to encourage students to support each other.
She graduated in May 2023 with a healthcare services and informatics administration degree. Balancing her academics with leadership was something Yearwood took in stride.
"Being in college, we are very dependent on the decisions that we make as a team," Yearwood said. "We run things by each other and are very dependent upon leadership. At UNG we have a very strong team, so depending on the team to help me or encourage me has been great for me. Just having that strong team to support me has impacted my success a lot and has helped me overcome some challenges I've faced."
Yearwood said her toughest challenge came from being young.
"The biggest challenge that I have faced involving leadership has been successfully striving to be a leader at a younger age," Yearwood said. "People often do not believe in or really encourage your success because it is written off as mistakes to be made or learned."
Yearwood said she took on leadership roles with an attitude of belief in herself and proving her doubters wrong.
Someone of great influence on her leadership was Jelma Flores-Mota, former unified SGA president for all five UNG campuses.
"She is very understanding and she has been a source of advice, help and encouragement," Yearwood said. "Former SGA Vice President Trey Bennett has been very understanding and helpful, providing notes and information."
The self-described visionary leader said she loves to rely on organization, goal-setting, and overall structure to help create the plans that lead to successful outcomes.
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