My Davidson | A Student Blog Building Trust, One Conversation at a Time: Leadership at Davidson College
November 4, 2025
One of the responsibilities of the SGA Office includes speaking at the Convocation Ceremony. Here I am at the 2025 ceremony with several college administrators.
At Davidson College, student ideas don’t just get heard - they drive progress. Learn how the Student Government Association (SGA) and student leaders build authentic relationships with the President, Dean of Students and Dean of Faculty to create real, collaborative change, and see how you can get involved to make your opinions matter on key campus issues, from social life to strategic planning.
About the Author
Connor Hines ’26 (he/him) is a political science and history double major from Mooresville, North Carolina. Outside of the classroom, he is involved across campus as the Student Government Association President (SGA), Union Board Co-Sponsorship Chair, and he serves as an admission fellow in the office of Admission and Financial Aid.
“As someone who lives in the Davidson area, I always had a first-hand look at the kind of student that calls Davidson home. After years of seeing the hard-working, caring, and friendly people around campus, I knew without a doubt that Davidson was where I wanted to be. Since being on campus, I have met some of my best friends and thoughtful professors in this tight-knit community.”
Every Wednesday afternoon, I step into a familiar office, sunlight streaming through tall windows and the hum of campus life just beyond the door. Sometimes it is the Dean of Students’ office, sometimes the President’s. I carry a notebook in one hand and a dozen ideas in my mind.
This is a space where conversation matters and every voice counts. These weekly meetings have become a defining rhythm of my Davidson experience. They are not just check-ins. They are moments of connection built on trust, honesty and a shared commitment to making campus better.
When I was first elected Student Government Association (SGA) President, I was not sure what these meetings would feel like. Would they be formal? Would my ideas actually be heard? What I found was genuine collaboration. Over time, the Dean of Students, the Dean of Faculty, the Director of Student Activities, the President, and I have built a relationship where we can talk openly about tough issues, from social life and housing to the challenges of maintaining community in a time of growing polarization and the evolving landscape of higher education, and we still leave room for mutual respect.
The trust I describe did not appear overnight; rather, it grew through open dialogue and a willingness on all sides to listen, even when conversations were not easy. I have learned that real progress at Davidson does not come from demanding change. It comes from building partnerships rooted in good faith and accountability.
L-R: Dr. Stacey Riemer (formerly Interim Dean of Students, now Managing Director of the Institute for Public Good and Director of the Center for Civic Engagement), Maya Rajeh (SGA Vice President) and me, Connor Hines, before the 2025 Convocation Ceremony.
One moment that stands out happened early this year, when I walked into Dean Barker’s office with an idea I knew might raise eyebrows; a campus-wide student tailgating policy. In the past, similar proposals had been met with hesitation or an automatic “no.” But instead of shutting the idea down, Dean Barker, who is in her first year at Davidson, listened. She then convened a group of stakeholders to start discussing how we could make it work. That moment captured what makes Davidson special. It was not about getting immediate approval. It was about building consensus across campus and working toward a shared goal, even knowing the path might bring unexpected challenges.
My weekly meeting with Dean of Students MarQuita Barker and Harry Carter.
Experiences like that have taught me a lot about who I am as a leader. I have realized that my leadership style is deeply collaborative. I do not believe in going it alone; rather, I believe in getting as many voices around the table as possible. That is when the best ideas emerge–when students, staff, and administrators all have a seat and a voice.
Davidson’s leadership culture makes that possible. I have seen how the administration truly respects student voices in decision-making. Our opinions are not treated as symbolic gestures, but they are taken seriously and often shape the direction of key policies. That respect was especially clear during my time serving on one of the college’s strategic planning working groups. Sitting beside faculty, staff, students, and trustees, I helped think through the long-term vision for Davidson, including how we can adapt to the changing landscape of higher education, continue to attract and support exceptional students, and preserve the values that make our community distinct.
President Doug Hicks speaks at the swearing-in ceremony of the 2025-2026 SGA. President Hicks is a frequent attendee of SGA meetings and always enjoys sharing updates and fielding questions.
I have also had the privilege of sharing student perspectives with the Board of Trustees. Whether during formal meetings or informal conversations over lunch, I am struck by how they genuinely want to understand campus life through a student lens. They ask thoughtful questions, challenge assumptions, and care deeply about the long-term well-being of the college community. In the past, we have discussed issues ranging from the college’s honor code to political sentiments among the student body. I am looking forward to sharing updates from the student body around campus social life when they are in town for their October meeting.
Working with administrators, faculty, staff, and trustees has shown me that leadership is not about authority. It is about trust, empathy, and dialogue. It is about showing up every week ready to listen, ready to learn, and ready to find common ground. These conversations have shaped not only how I see Davidson but also how I see myself, as someone who leads by bringing people together, one conversation at a time.
