The Omicron Delta Kappa Board Nominations Committee is pleased to announce the two candidates for the position of Faculty/Staff Trustee and Chair-Elect of the Mission Committee. The position description may be located here. The election will take place May 22 – 31, 2023. Sitting faculty advisors and circle coordinators will receive an email with the instructions as to how to submit a vote for this important position. The two candidates, their circle affiliations, resumes, and statements are below.
Charles “Charley” L. Pride
(Western Kentucky University, 2001)
Faculty Advisor, Western Kentucky University
O∆K Involvement
I have worked with the Western Kentucky University circle for last several years. Reinvigorated the Circle about 7 years ago. The Circle has become a viable entity on campus that works to encompass the pillars of Omicron Delta Kappa.
Candidate Statement
My desire for service to Omicron Delta Kappa as a Board of Trustees member comes from my strong resonance with the Omicron Delta Kappa’s mission of recognizing and developing student leaders. I have served as the Faculty Advisor and/or Circle Coordinator for the Western Kentucky University Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa for several years. In my professional life, I serve as the Director of Student Activities at WKU overseeing registered student organizations, SGA, Greek Life, Leadership & Volunteerism, and the Student Union. Since 1992, I have strived to engage students on campus and in the Bowling Green community. I have also volunteered for 30+ years with my fraternity, Phi Delta Theta, including service as International President of the General Council. I continue to volunteer on a local level with the WKU Phi Delt chapter. I have encouraged and participated in fraternity and sorority engagement as well as advocacy for student engagement and leadership opportunities throughout my career.
I strongly believe the purpose of the collegiate experience is to provide a transformational experience for young people to become the future leaders of our communities. Both my professional career and volunteer activities reflect my desire to serve others, especially young people, and support them in their personal and professional development. Omicron Delta Kappa plays a vital role in creating that transformation for the students in our membership. When it comes to my leadership philosophy, I believe strong leadership is rooted in acting in alignment with one’s values. Omicron Delta Kappa’s values of collaboration, leadership, integrity, scholarship, and service provide a blueprint for our members to become leaders on their campuses, communities, and beyond. Omicron Delta Kappa allows our students to be exposed to the concepts of leadership with peers and develop both their leadership philosophy and leadership style.
Courtney R. Worsham
(University of South Carolina – Columbia, 2008)
Faculty Advisor, University of South Carolina – Columbia
O∆K Involvement
I’ve served as the Faculty Advisor to the Chi Circle since August 2011. During this time our circle has received numerous national awards, has received multiple Clay Grants, and we have had one circle member named as the Dougherty National Leader of the Year. With the exception of about 2 years in 2019-21, we have held 2 inductions per year and have sent advisors, circle coordinators and student leaders to regional and national training conferences. I’ve had the pleasure of attending a regional session in Clemson, SC, and 3 national conferences. During my time on the National Awards Committee, we revised the rubric for evaluating candidates, and we also changed the process for selecting the National Leaders of the Year. Additionally, we expanded the committee to include members who had special expertise in the various pillars. Previously, NLOY were required to be the LOYs from their respective circles. This year, for the first time, we opened the application to all inducted O∆K members, in hopes of increasing the candidate pool to identify those outstanding members for each of O∆K’s pillars. I’m thrilled to report that we reviewed 82 applications for each of the pillars and the Dougherty Leader of the Year!
I was named to the National Awards Committee in 2021, and I currently chair this committee. As part of my leadership role, I also sit on the Mission Committee (August 2022-present). In February 2023 I was asked to serve on the 2023 National Leadership Conference Planning Team. I’m excited about this new role and will look forward to seeing our fellow members in Atlanta this November.
Candidate Statement
When I was inducted into the Chi Circle of Omicron Delta in 2008 as an honors causa member, I knew I wanted to help grow and guide our local circle. Immediately, I started advising students on how to articulate their leadership expertise to enhance their eligibility for membership in O∆K, and I wrote scholarship recommendation letters to help worthy students get financial support for graduate programs and honors/awards. I was fortunate to be in a position where I had a lengthy service/leadership record so that I was exposed to outstanding leaders and had an opportunity to mentor many outstanding young people throughout my time at USC. My faculty advisor predecessor retired in May of 2011, and I was thrilled to accept the offer to serve as the Faculty Advisor for the Chi Circle.
In addition to my work with O∆K, my campus leadership at the University of South Carolina has included 25 years of service to my sorority (Chi Omega) at both the local and national level, 22 years of service as a hearing officer for the Carolina Judicial Council, 3 years on the Faculty Senate (during which time I have chaired the University Athletics Advisory Committee and sat on the Faculty Senate Steering Committee for 2 years), in addition to advising undergraduate honors theses and taking students to Australia and Italy since 2009. So, you can see I’ve been heavily involved in many aspects of campus life at USC. My primary goal for my work has been to develop students who are prepared to lead their communities and advance in their careers. Professionally, I’ve gained the most satisfaction from watching my students blossom into mature adults of character who are contributing members of society.
For the advancement of O∆K, I’ve sought to cultivate leaders from various pillars, and I’m fortunate that I interact with a large, diverse group of students that I can nominate for membership. I’ve reached out to different organizations that have not heretofore been represented, and I’ve been thrilled to see the diversity in organizations, pillars, ethnicity and age. The Chi Circle is larger, more inclusive, and stronger than ever before, and I hope to use the knowledge and expertise I’ve gained as an advisor to expand and enhance the work of O∆K nationally. I understand that circles look very different on different campuses, and it’s truly those diverse circles and leadership styles that make us the premier national leadership honor society. I’d be honored to serve as a faculty trustee.
