Danielle Kent

Danielle Kent enrolled at the University of North Georgia (UNG) with the intent of earning a college degree, like so many other freshmen. With her sights set on a degree in international affairs and a minor in Japanese, the Gray, Georgia, native has overcome obstacles yet continues to strive for an anticipated graduation date of spring 2023. 

Kent worked diligently with Dr. Anastasia Lin on her application for the Boren Scholarship.

"It took around three weeks total, but it was a really helpful experience despite not getting the Boren scholarship," Kent said. 

Persistence paid off, though, and Kent received the Nanzan University Collaborative Online International Learning (NU-COIL) scholarship, which subsidizes the accommodation cost for some foreign students participating in the Inter-University Exchange Project between UNG and Nanzan, which is in Nagoya, Japan. The program is how Kent has been able to create relationships and lead others online and in person. It is relationships, Kent said, that have motivated her to continue. Once she arrived at Nanzan in fall 2022, she went from Boren scholarship alternate to winner, which means she will be able to spend the whole 2022-23 academic year at Nanzan. 

"I enjoy making lasting connections with people and putting them in a position where they feel comfortable to come to me if they need help," Kent said. "I lead in smaller areas of my life. I greatly enjoy building relationships through teamwork." 

Kent is eager to help a struggling classmate in the same way she has helped former co-workers.

"I step up and try to explain the problem in a way they might understand," Kent said. "Despite not having the designated task of training new employees, I always make myself available to take initiative and make new hires feel comfortable to make mistakes and ask questions when they need help."

Her leadership extends beyond Georgia, too. Kent has friends in Japan who need help studying English. The 13-hour time difference is challenging, but Kent said she stays up late to help if they need it.

"I define leadership through a personal lens, meaning the leader doesn't separate themselves simply due to their title, but instead has interpersonal connections with their followers," Kent said. "I believe that leadership works best when the individual has a close relationship with their peers. A leader takes into account individual voices, when making a collective decision."