Elon sophomore works to create a healthier world with the help of the Center for Leadership
Sophomore Meredith Berk, a public health and human services studies major, has conducted health screenings in remote regions of Panama, traveled to Honduras through the Periclean Scholars program and taught English at an all-girls school in Tanzania.
Berk credits her Elon course work and the Center for Leadership for providing her with the tools to make a difference in the world. Berk has been involved with the LEAD program, Adventures in Leadership, and has completed the Leadership ELR with her recent leadership role as coordinator of an Alternative Breaks trip through the Kernodle Center.
“Academics train you how to be an expert in a particular field, but the LEAD program teaches you how to be an exceptional leader to create actual change,” Berk said.
Berk has already created actual change throughout her many trips abroad. She recently returned from leading an Alternative Break trip to Costa Rica where students worked on social projects with a local school and community members.
“The foundation of leadership knowledge that I have gained through the Center for Leadership has given me the confidence to seek out opportunities that I would have otherwise overlooked,” Berk says. “It has also helped me understand the type of leader I am and the kind of leader I would like to become and demonstrated to me the potential of what I could accomplish while at Elon.”
“Meredith wants to make a difference in this world,” said Steve Mencarini, director of the Center for Leadership. “It has been great to work with her on developing her strengths and engaging with her in creating positive change on our campus and beyond.”
Berk plans to attend graduate school for public health, with her dream career being to work for the World Health Organization.