Missouri State University

Skip to content Skip to navigation
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Leadership Development Blog

LeaderBear Spotlight: James DeGrief

May 1, 2015 by Caleb Hearon

This week’s LeaderBear is a Family and Consumer Sciences and Agriculture Education major from Michigan. When he came to Missouri State, James decided to  join Pi Kappa Phi. He also got involved with Student Government Association, FACS (Family and Consumer Sciences) Ed, and Block and Bridle. The next semester, he was able to take on his first leadership roles. He was Secretary of FACS Ed and Service Chair for Pi Kappa Phi. During that semester is when he completed the Commerce Bank Emerging Leaders program and was initiated into Phi Sigma Upsilon. Then during his sophomore year, he was elected to serve as the Vice President and President of FACS Ed. He also held the positions of Philanthropy and Housing Chairs, as well as IFC (Interfraternity Council) and GAMMA (Greeks Advocating the Mature Management of Alcohol) reps for Pi Kappa Phi.

He then ran for the executive board of GAMMA to apply some of the skills that he learned from Emerging Leaders. He was elected to serve as the Vice President of Programming and was able to hold two tournaments for fundraisers. During his term, GAMMA changed into FSLSA (Fraternity and Sorority Life Leaders of Social Awareness). He was able, with the help of the rest of the executive board, to bring the Clothesline Project to Missouri State.

Currently, James is Director of Social Awareness on IFC. He is able to take what he learned from Emerging Leaders and apply it to this position. One of the biggest things that he does for this position is serve as an advisor for FSLSA. How did our leadership program help prepare him for this role?

“One of the biggest things that I learned from these programs were my leadership strengths and the areas that I need to grow in. One of the biggest things that I learned from Emerging Leaders, was effective communication skills. I was able to further my verbal communication skills through the different sessions and activities that I participated in. I was also able to work with some other great leaders on campus.”

During Spring Break, James had the opportunity to attend his first Ability Camp. The Ability Experience, through Pi Kappa Phi, specializes in people with disabilities. Brothers of the fraternity from across the country join together in this event. This year James was at Camp ASCCA (Alabama Special Camp for Children and Adults). They were there making the camp more accessible to the campers. Some of the projects that the guys worked on were a fishing pier, hammock lounge, build new picnic tables, and tons of smaller projects.

While at the Ability Camp, James signed up for one of the summer programs that The Ability Experience offers, Build America. Next summer, 2016, he will be participating in a 6 week program, where he will go to 6 different camps for people with disabilities. While at these camps, James will be assisting camp councilors with their campers, as well as working on a project that the camp needs completed.

With all of this awesome work, we know James has some great advice for Missouri State students:

“Get involved and find your place at Missouri State. There is a place for every student here. Whether it be in Fraternity and Sorority Life, Student Government, Student Activities Council, or any of our other 300+ student organizations.”

Filed Under: LeaderBear

Subscribe via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Recent Posts

  • Emerging Leaders – Incoming Participant Tips
  • Tips Towards Successful Leadership Development 10/15/2018
  • Tips Towards Successful Leadership Development 08/30/2018
  • LeaderBear: Ryan Frohock
  • LeaderBear: Brooke Schmelder

Archives

  • January 2019
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014

Tags

AFLV Ahrens Bear Beta Bethany Bishop Brandon Caleb Hearon Conference Delta ELF Elizabeth Shannon Farewell Field FIJI fraternity FSL FSLSA Gamma Gamma Phi Beta Hockey Kappa Kelsea Fink Leader LeaderBear Leaders Are Made LeaderShape Leah Libby Libby Shannon Missouri Missouri State Missouri State Field Hockey Missouri Valley Conference MO State Phi Phi Gamma Delta Pi Reiner Gall Reitmayer Shannon Simpson State Valley Wayne S. Calvin YOU

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
Make your Missouri statementMake your Missouri statement
  • Last Modified: April 29, 2015
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Disclosures
  • Equal Opportunity Employer and Institution
  • © 2025 Board of Governors, Missouri State University
  • Contact Information
  • Healthcare MRFs