Leadership Profile: Ben Shaw
Riverdale junior Ben Shaw grew up involved in his home church, so stepping into leadership roles within the Alma College Chapel was a natural fit. In addition to being a Student Ministry Coordinator, he helps lead worship and a Bible study team.
“I really enjoy Chapel, and I believe that God uses me here,” he says. “I’m in charge of planning the weekly games at my Bible study. I also sit on the planning board to help finalize decisions and step into any role if another leader is unable to make it. I really like working with people.”
To Shaw, leaders have the ability to take charge and be confident in their own abilities but also treat those they are leading in a caring way. His time at Alma has helped the history major discover this ability in himself, he says.
“From faculty to staff to other students, there are a lot of people at Alma who look for leadership potential within you, and they are good at encouraging you to take roles that will help bring it out,” he says. “Alma also has helped me to streamline and perfect the leadership abilities I came here with.”
After graduating from Alma, Shaw plans to join the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, or another service-based organization, so he can utilize both his leadership skills and a passion for service, he says.
“Service is a very personal line of work, and you get to work with people on a face-to-face level and a day-to-day basis,” he says. “I can’t imagine ever working in a really high management position where I didn’t even see the people I worked with. What I love most about leadership is investing in people and enjoying who they are.”
