Who are FSE Leaders?
The Freshman Service Experience Leader is often a returning participant ready to take a step forward and exhibit the same passion, skill-sets and knowledge they learned from the program to lead an entirely new group of incoming freshman. An FSE leader has a strong interest in DC, social issues, and nonprofit organizations and is comfortable being in charge of a group. It is important to remember that the FSE leader is usually the first role model the incoming freshmen encounter; hence, an FSE leader must be positive and enthusiastic about American University as a whole.
We have the following expectations of leaders:
- Attending evening programs relevant to current economic, social and political issues in DC with the freshmen; to emphasize that FSE is a week of “experience” not just service.
- Arriving at sites on-time and speaking directly to the site directors for coordination and acting as a liaison between the organization and FSE.
- Setting a good example to the freshmen to help craft their first impressions of campus life and of Washington, DC.
Always knowing where group members are to ensure participants’ safety and security around DC.
Essentially, the leader’s job is to engage the freshmen and facilitate an environment in which they can bond with each other and learn about the respective region/site and issues. In this way, leaders benefit by increasing their own knowledge and passion for DC as well as gain critical skills and experience in a leadership position.
