Clubs & Campus Leadership
I graduated from Muhlenberg College, where the campus had a vibrant student life with a variety of clubs (also known as “Student Organizations”), all run by students. I had the opportunity to start two of my own clubs, "co-revive" another, serve on the board of one more, and be an active member in several others. Below, talks about my involvement and leadership roles across those campus organizations.
The Pokémon Club:
I founded and was the President of the Muhlenberg Pokémon Club (also referred to as the 'Berg Pokémon Club). I formally and officially established the club through a bureaucratic application/presentation process via the college's Student Government Association (SGA). I, along with the club's board, organized in-person meetings, for, and about, Pokémon, where we engaged in all aspects of the franchise, including the Pokémon video games, the Trading Card Game (TCG), Pokémon Go, Pokémon Showdown, and we even had the original Pokémon board game from the '90s, “Pokémon: Master Trainer”, and more.
The Harry Potter Club:
I founded and was the President of the Muhlenberg Harry Potter Club (also referred to as the 'Berg Harry Potter Club or the "HP Club"). I formally established the club through a beaurocratic application/presentation process via the college's Student Government Association (SGA). I, along with the club's board, organized in-person meetings, for, and about, Harry Potter.
The Fencing Club:
I "co-revived" and ran/was the President of the Fencing Club on campus. The Fencing Club at Muhlenberg has been around for a long time, but after the 2022-2023 academic year, the club's President was a senior and graduated, and nobody took it over, so it wasn't around for a semester. In the second semester of the 2023-2024 academic year, a fellow student and friend of mine, Ryan Steremberg, and I "co-revived" the club; we brought it back, and re-established it.
In the past, Coach Paul McAndrew would come in to help teach, and then-President & current Co-Coach, Noah Katz ('23), now also teaches those wanting to learn to fence and bout with one another. Ryan reached out to them both near the beginning of the second semester of the 2023-2024 academic year, and both Paul and Noah now come to the Fencing Club again to teach those who want to learn.
For the Fencing Club, we provided the gear (owned by the club), and we taught fencing, starting from the basics. So, no equipment or experience was needed in order to join the club. It was a low-stakes, high-fun way to learn how to fence, and to practice with others!
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The Muhlenberg Board Game Association (MBGA):
During the second half of my time at Muhlenberg, I became involved with the Muhlenberg Board Game Association (MBGA). In my Junior year, I was the Secretary of the club, helping with the club's social media and communications, and aiding in anything that the President of the club needed to get done. In my Senior year, I was the President of the club, and ran weekly meetings along with the rest of the club board.
The Muhlenberg Activities Council (MAC):
The Muhlenberg Activities Council (MAC) is responsible for planning and organizing a wide variety of campus-wide events throughout the year. From social gatherings to performances, MAC strives to provide fun and engaging activities that bring the Muhlenberg community together. We worked to create memorable experiences for fellow students, whether it was hosting themed parties, trivia and bingo nights, movie nights, various trips including Broadway shows, or other major events that enhanced student life.
Other clubs I was involved with:
Israeli Dance Troupe:
Muhlenberg's Israeli Dance Troupe, להקת מהתחלה (“Lehakat Me'hatchala”), is a group dedicated to learning and performing newly-choreographed dances to Israeli music. Every year, we learned a new dance, which culminated in a performance at the Boston Israeli Folkdance Festival, DC's Israeli Folkdance Festival, and/or Manhattan's Israeli Folkdance Festival in March.
Wall Street Club:
Muhlenberg's Wall Street Club was a student-led organization focused on learning about the financial markets, investment strategies, and career opportunities in the finance industry. Through discussions and guest speakers, members gained knowledge of how the stock market works, along with the latest trends and tools in the industry.
Jewelry-Making Club:
Muhlenberg's Jewelry-Making Club is a community where students can create unique, handcrafted jewelry. From designing necklaces and bracelets, to more advanced techniques like metalworking and soldering, it offers a wide range of jewelry-making opportunities. I made a few bracelets, a necklace, and worked on a metal design, as well.