By Katie Frey
Danielle-Andree Atangana received the MSU College of Social Science Outstanding Leadership Award. The award is given to a student who demonstrates initiative and leadership towards their peers or within the community and makes a positive impact on either the student’s personal, professional, or academic environment, or the community. Atangana is a senior, and she is majoring in human development and family studies with concentrations in health promotion and human behavior and in social services.
“I want to foster a healthy and inclusive community,” Atangana said. “I love Michigan, I was born and raised here. I believe the best way for a community to grow is to have a leader in place that is familiar with the people. I want to become more involved in community work that supports refugees and women.”
Currently, she is one of the Harry S. Truman MSU nominees and she serves as the African Student Union Executive Board general member. She is also a Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities Katrina Tagget Fellow, and a Center for Engaged Learning Community Engagement Scholar.
Since the beginning of her junior year, she has served as a student leader for the MSU Women’s Leadership Institute (WLI). She works with over 30 college students, many who are first-year students at MSU who’ve had difficulties making the transition from high school to college both academically and socially. She acts as a friend and role model, and she assists freshmen seeking assistance with their classes and resumes. As part of her role, she also shares resources such as websites and books that she found helpful in her transition and throughout her college career.
“As a student leader, my role is to provide a safe space for these students to be vulnerable about their situations, and the resources necessary to meet their needs,” she said.
One of her ideas was to host online study tables so that the students could meet each other and have a chance to learn a variety of studying habits and techniques.
“The student mentees have told me how my work has helped provide structure and made them feel more supported in their transition to their first year at MSU,” she said.
Through the Peace Corps Prep program, Atangana had the opportunity to connect with the Lansing Area Aids Network, an organization dedicated to providing services and programs for people living with HIV/AIDS and preventing the further spread of the virus. She has completed her training and now volunteers as a certified HIV testing counselor.
“As a student leader and HIV testing counselor, I have learned the importance of humility, consistency and credibility,” she reflected.
This year, Atangana also served as an intern at the Refugee Development Center (RDC) of Lansing where she worked with and assisted recently arrived refugees and newcomers to adjust to a new culture and climate.
“Witnessing my mother’s personal struggles when she arrived in the US to learn English, achieve a higher education and independently support herself and provide for my siblings has motivated me to be better for others.”
During her time with RDC, she helped with beginner and intermediate English Classes, putting together welcome kits and helping people enroll at Lansing Community College. She would also help with public events to raise awareness of the RDC’s work and impact.
“I want to become more involved in community work that supports refugees and women,” she said.
After graduation, Atangana plans to serve with the Peace Corps in Cameroon as a community health educator.
“I’m so thankful to receive the Outstanding Leadership Award, it means so much to me. I want others to know that you can do anything you put your mind to. People have asked me, ‘What’s the plan?’ or, ‘Where are you going now?’ – With faith – forward,” she said.