Emma Wilson

University of North Georgia (UNG) student Emma Wilson leads by creating personal connections, something she encourages others to do, too.

The Peachtree City, Georgia, native defines leadership as using and sharing the skills and knowledge people acquire through experience with others. Wilson is a part of the UNG Student Government Association (SGA), mentor/mentee chair for the Honors Program, on the Nighthawk drumline, a member of the UNG Robotics Club, and a supplemental instructor (SI) for Chemistry 1211.

She is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at the Dahlonega Campus and hopes to enter emergency medicine post-graduation. The fast pace and variety intrigue her.

As SGA Senate Chair, she runs the legislative branch, which includes planning and running meetings of roughly 20 senators.

"We do all the legislation for the campuses. We recently passed a resolution for Dr. James Conneely's retirement that I had drafted," Wilson, who expects to graduate in May 2026, said. "We're also looking into other legislation right now to support campus space on the Oconee Campus because the Senate covers all five campuses."

Leadership roles take her time and pose a challenge for Wilson, who uses a color-coded planner to maintain her GPA and responsibilities, including connecting with others.

"I enjoy making connections with students and people I am leading. I like to know their name, what they're doing and how they are," Wilson said. "I want to have a one-on-one connection with them. I don't like using an email where they only know me by my email salutation. I really like to have connections with the people I lead, and I think that makes a big difference."

Wilson is a longtime leader, an opportunity that began early in her academic career.

"In high school, I was always involved in leadership, so it's really not unfamiliar for me to be involved in extracurriculars as well as exceed in school," she said. "I like to be busy. I don't like it when I don't have anything to do, so it's just more stuff I like to fill my free time with."

She continues to hold leadership roles because of its ripple effect.

"People don't understand the legacy they're leaving when they take leadership positions, even if it's small. Doing SI, for example, I get to help these students pass classes and to help them further their careers," she said. "It might only be affecting one student or one person, but in the grand scheme of things, leadership allows you to leave your legacy on the college."