Leadership and Service
Leadership and Service
We help students realize their potential — not just as students, but as leaders. Students find their passion and take charge of it by working as organization presidents, founding clubs, serving on university committees and volunteering in the local community.
From opportunities on campus, like becoming a resident advisor or peer tutor, to participating in leadership and service in local organizations in the greater community, plenty of W&L students find themselves in leadership and service positions throughout their four years on campus.
Opportunities to Lead
In the Community
W&L students are actively engaged in the Lexington and Rockbridge County communities. Examples range from tutoring in local schools to providing interpretation services for the hospital, and from helping to build houses with Habitat for Humanity to working at the local domestic violence shelter.
Student Government
Student councils and committees are a vital part of the Washington and Lee community. We believe in structures that are student-led, student-governed and student-elected.
Residence Life
Residence life leaders perform many roles, such as Resident Adviser or Community Assistant, living with and providing programming for students in on-campus housing. You also could be part of the First-Year Orientation Committee, which helps to prepare campus for the next incoming class, or be a Pre-Orientation Trip Leader.
Peer Counselors
The Peer Counseling Program is a team of student volunteers dedicated to helping other students navigate their college experience by answering questions, providing advice and offering support.
Greek Life
Fraternities and sororities exist for the personal and professional development of their members and their community. Greek life is typically founded on principles of scholarship, leadership, friendship and service that are taught internally by a national ritual to the members who strive to exhibit those principles in their daily lives.
Leadership through Service
75% of the student body participates in community service on campus or across the globe.
Veronika Kolosova ’25 has explored the liberal arts experience at W&L through campus involvement and an interdisciplinary approach to her studies.
Addie-Grace Cook ’25, a politics major with a double minor in Middle East and South Asia studies and poverty and human capability studies, is spending her summer making an impact in the greater Rockbridge community through a Shepherd Program internship with Project Horizon.
Melos Ambaye ’25 is helping children in Ethiopia as part of her Shepherd summer internship.
Ben Bankston ’25 is finding opportunities at W&L to challenge himself in and out of the classroom.
Student Organization Spotlight: Remote Area Medical
Washington and Lee’s chapter of Remote Area Medical takes students to remote rural areas to provide medical services and gain valuable practical experience along the way.
Jaden Keuhner ’24 leaves a legacy honoring Gold Star families
Keuhner helped establish a memorial at Jordan’s Point dedicated to veterans killed in the line of duty and their families.
Greek Councils Connect Campus Through Fun and Philanthropy
Washington and Lee’s Interfraternity Council, National Panhellenic Conference and National Pan-Hellenic Council focus on community-building, education and fundraising throughout the year.
Washington and Lee students are making a dynamic impact in the community through National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations.
Washington and Lee students gain new perspectives after internships through the Shepherd Program.
Washington and Lee’s Class of 2023 includes nine recipients of the Certificate of International Immersion awarded by W&L’s Center for International Education.
Washington and Lee seniors David Onyejekwe ’23, Jake McCabe ’23 and Bailey Keel ’23 have created lasting connections with the local community as volunteer coaches for Lex Lax youth lacrosse.
W&L neuroscience students recently partnered with an innovative art-making program offered at Kendal at Lexington.
“At W&L we are encouraged to care about the things we do, love the people we interact with and value our own time and life.”
Hannah Palmatary
Majors: Neuroscience and Religion