On behalf of Alumni Relations, our Student Spotlight shines on senior Jennifer Lafon!
Jennifer is a wonderful co-worker and the kind of person everyone hopes to know. Alumni Relations Coordinator Olivia Martin writes,
“I have been lucky to work with Jennifer for nearly two years and she has shown determination and initiative from day one. The Alumni Relations Office hired Jennifer after she popped into our office to say ‘hello’ – she was exploring campus as a new transfer student and came to check out the Office of Alumni Relations. It turns out that that visit was the beginning of a two-year working relationship.
As a student employee, Jennifer was a trusted member of the team who we could count on to tackle projects with integrity and tenacity. Although Jennifer was balancing a busy schedule, she managed to treat each project, assignment, or deadline as the only thing on her plate. No corners were cut, nothing fell through the cracks, she was ALWAYS on the ball.
Aside from her role as a student employee in the Alumni Relations Office, Jennifer also took on leadership roles in the Student Alumni Leadership Council (SALC). She stepped up as the President during SALC’s first year as an organization and lead the org through the pandemic with poise. And when SALC needed a Vice President for Philanthropy, Jennifer was there to step up and fill the seat, not batting an eye at holding two separate leadership positions within SALC. Under her leadership, SALC engaged students and alumni through virtual events and developed a philanthropy initiative to raise money for a Detroit Mercy Student who was negatively impacted by COVID-19.
One of Jennifer’s best qualities is her honesty and vulnerability. She displayed a quiet confidence when she spoke of any struggles she was having or where she might need guidance. This quality, I believe, has a lot to do with her success. While some may view vulnerability as a weakness, Jennifer embraced those opportunities to learn and grow and become an even better version of herself. And in giving grace to herself, she is also able to give kindness and empathy to others. It seems only right that after graduating from Detroit Mercy, she is pursuing a Masters of Social Work at Wayne State University. Jennifer has shown that she is committed to serving her community and is passionate about social justice. In the months leading up to the 2020 Presidential Election, Jennifer helped folks register to vote, find their polling place, or find a ballot drop box. Her commitment to her community is an inspiration and reminds us that we all have power to impact others in a positive way and effect change.
While we are sad to see Jennifer leave us, we are excited knowing that she will continue spreading positivity wherever she goes and will excel in the field of social work. And we are confident that whoever gets to work with Jennifer next will feel just as lucky as we have felt to have such a stellar person on their team. We are proud to have played a small part in her growth and know this is just the beginning for Jennifer!”