Hayley Doan

(she/her/they/them)

Candidate for President

APPLICATION RESPONSES

Why do you want to be on the Executive Board for UVSA Gulf Coast?

From the first day I decided to re-instate VSA at South Alabama, I have enjoyed every minute of my VSA experience. Truthfully, I had no idea where this experience was going to lead me, and I was worried that things wouldn't work out. However, throughout the past few years, it was amazing to see my vision come to life. I was not only able to create a safe space for people like myself (with the help of others along the way of course), but I was also able to make lasting friendships as well as learn many new leadership skills. With that being said, I want to be on the executive board for UVSA Gulf Coast because I want to do more. I never thought I'd enjoy VSA as much as I have, but I do. I want to use my passion to further progress UVSA GC, as VSA is something I have dedicated a lot of time to, and it's something I find very enjoyable. I believe that by being on the executive board for UVSA GC, I will be able to further use my passion to do something great, and I want to continue working with those who feel the same as I do.

What makes you a qualified candidate for this position? 

I believe I am qualified for this position because of my past experience as president. Throughout my four years as president at South Alabama University, I have learned a lot along the way. I have had the pleasure of seeing our VSA thrive, which leads me to believe that I am doing well. Of course, like everyone else, I am not perfect. There was a lot of trial and error along the way. With that being said, I believe I take criticism well, and in fact, I welcome it. I believe this is one of my greatest strengths, and it shows a level of maturity as well as a good leader. I don't get mad when someone critiques what I do, but rather, I listen and adjust accordingly.

Furthermore, I believe I am qualified for this position because I have worked with many different people in the past in not only VSA, but in Phi Sigma Ota as well. With this, I was able to obtain a lot of experience with working with those who are very similar to me and share the same visions, and with those who are different from me and share opposing visions. When it came to working with those who had different ideas and approaches than the ones I had, I didn't necessarily find it frustrating. Rather, I wanted to hear the other party and their thoughts. Every single time, after listening to one another, we were able to find common ground and were able to compromise.

Overall, I believe I show many qualities of a good leader, but of course, I am still learning. However, I want to bring my experience to UVSA GC to help not only our VSA's, but the overall community as well.

What is your vision for this position, as well as for UVSA Gulf Coast?

When I first started USA VSA, I was able to meet a certain someone that really inspired me with his hard work. That person was Khoa Vu. Not too long ago in the fall semester, I had someone from a different VSA come to me and told me that I had inspired him. I was shocked, but I was genuinely touched to the point where I wanted to cry. This person told me that he always felt welcomed at USA VSA events, and that he was so glad to be in an environment much like the one my executive board and I were able to create.

I believe I can speak for many when I say this, but VSA is a community and safe space that many of us use to escape school, even if it's just for a little while. With that being said, my vision for this position, as well as for UVSA GC, is to continue creating a community to where anyone and everyone feels welcomed, and to bring others closer together. I want to continue doing great things for our region, and to continue inspiring others. I want to help lead a generation of those like me, so that once my time in VSA has passed, they can take what they have learned and do the same as I had. Essentially, I want to continue "passing down the torch" so to speak.

Lastly, I want there to be more interaction / outreach between UVSA GC and the VSA's within our region. I know that with COVID, this has been difficult to do, however I want everyone to feel as though they are part of a family, rather than just a region. Again, this all encompasses my vision of bringing our community closer together.

VSA & GENERAL RESUME

University of South Alabama Vietnamese Student Association

President, May 2018 - present

Phi Sigma Ota (The Foreign Language Honors Society)

Treasurer, 2020 - 2021