February 28, 2007 - Wesley Smallwood is not your typical college student. The West Virginia Wesleyan junior from Gibsonia, PA is enrolled in 17 hours this semester, while working 20-30 hours a week at the local Pizza Hut. However, Smallwood’s responsibilities do not end in the classroom or workplace. He also serves as the President of Wesleyan’s Chi Phi Fraternity.

How does the elementary education manage to juggle all of these responsibilities? “I definitely have learned how to budget and manage my time,” says Smallwood. “Organization is one of the keys to becoming an effective teacher and through my role as a fraternity president, I have learned how to delegate important tasks.”

Delegation is not the only skill Smallwood has learned in his leadership role. Fraternity presidents work directly with college administrators, city officials, neighbors, local law enforcement agencies, college alumni, and fellow students. “You really do have to learn how to soak in comments and constructive criticism,” adds Smallwood. “I have learned quickly that decisions will not please everyone and I have been forced to develop mediation skills. Managing a house with 16 men, adhering to the College’s standards, learning about insurance liability, and knowing when to draw the line clearly provides life-long leadership skills.”

Smallwood’s roots at Wesleyan are deep. Both parents, Don ’80 and Cathy ’81, are Wesleyan alumni. However, his path to the College came via football. “I chose Wesleyan because I could walk-on the football team,” notes Smallwood. “I was undecided on my major, although I have always enjoyed being with kids.”

After his freshman year, he chose elementary education as a major, decided to leave the football program, joined a fraternity, and started working at Pizza Hut. While he loves his education classes and enjoys working, it is the fraternity experience that Smallwood most relishes.

“Being in a fraternity exposes you to diversity and helps you develop your social skills,” notes Smallwood. “We have members from international countries and from states throughout the northeast. I have developed salesmanship skills in the recruitment of new members and important life skills by living in the fraternity house. We have to plan meals, which involves adapting to everyone’s tastes. I have learned how to organize and lead meetings. However, the other officers in the fraternity are the key to ensuring that all tasks are completed. Without their help, I could not juggle all of these responsibilities.”

Smallwood’s days are full and long. He is either in class or in the library until 2 p.m., at work until 9 or 10 p.m., and conducting fraternity business in between. Without complaint, the Wesleyan student keeps going and going, enjoying his college experience, while preparing for a career in teacher education.

WVWC Press Release