In the spirit of the Distinction of Public Affairs application process beginning, our spotlight this week is an alum of the program. Come and meet our new #LeaderBear Spotlight Andrew Whitney! 

Andrew Thomas Whitney is a Senior Entertainment Management major, with a minor in Spanish. Andrew, also known as DoThe_Drew on social media, will be graduating this December. His top five strengths are Adaptability, Ideation, Woo, Developer, and Positivity.

Andrew is currently the FSL Council Specialist in the Office of Student Engagement. He advises Phi Sigma Upsilon, Fraternity and Sorority Life Leaders for Social Awareness (FSLSA), Order of Omega, and Rho Lambda, and also helps with chapter expansion. In 2016, he was the President of Pi Kappa Alpha, as well as being awarded the 2016 Fraternity Man of the Year. 

This is what Andrew had to say about DPA.

The Distinction in Public Affairs program opened my eyes to many of the red flag issues that are affecting the Springfield community. Through DPA, I was made aware of a ton of the social issues that are happening all around me. I worked with a team of 7 other students to shed light to some of the problems associated with Parks and Recreation. I made new friends, saw a different perspective of what’s really going on in Springfield, and gained a new heart for the Springfield community and the issues that it faces.

Andrew had parting advice to give to younger students

The best advice I have for younger students is to get involved as soon as possible and figure out a way to help your organization function. It’s a great feeling knowing that being involved actually impacts your organization. In the same way someone can impact an organization, the organization impacts the person! Being involved on campus sharpened my professional and interpersonal skills. It also helped me learn to manage my time better, make a ton of friends, and expand my professional network.