David Phelps, the SOURCE Director of Organization Leadership for the SOURCE

By: Elisabeth García

Working as Director of Organization Leadership for the SOURCE at the University of Alabama is more than just a résumé-builder for David Phelps. It’s a way to further his passion of empowering student organizations.

            Phelps is a sophomore majoring in civil engineering and New College with a depth study in urban education and social improvement.

            The Bama fan hails from Tiger country: New Orleans, La. He’s not a passive student either.

Even before attending UA, Phelps earned one of the freshmen spots in the University Fellows Experience, where he met fellow director Michael Forst. Throughout his freshmen year, he also acted as a co-chair for Freshman Forum.

This year, Phelps headed Bama Buddies on campus, a campus-wide service project that allows organizations or individuals to create and customize stuffed animals for local children.

            Continuing as a Fellow, he is also a member of Lambda Sigma, a sophomore honor society. Phelps also attends The Well at Calvary Baptist Church.

            His favorite class, Dynamics of American Education, was the first education-related class he took after feeling called into the field, he said.

            “It is entirely discussion based,” he said. “With opinions ranging from traditional to progressive, the discussions have provided the perfect sounding board for new ideas and have shaped many of my current views on charter schools, No Child Left Behind, and alternative certification programs.”

            Due to his enthusiasm in this area, Phelps is currently eyeing a career in education.

            “Whether obtaining certification from graduate school or other non-traditional route, I plan to teach for many years,” he said.

            At present, he’s not sure which age range he will end up teaching, but he plans to teach middle school or high school in an urban environment.

He said one of his educator role models, Ron Clark, argued that middle school is the critical time in life for changing paradigms and ensuring future success, which is what he is leaning towards.

Phelps said his favorite moment thus far at UA was last winter’s campus-wide snowball fight on the quad. He said close to a thousand random students ran around, forming spontaneous teams and hurling thousands of frosty grenades at one another.

  “The climax of the evening was when one of the snowball throwers shouted the email announcing classes were canceled, and a collective ‘Roll Tide’ was heard across campus,” he said.

Phelps enjoys tuning into Pandora for an eclectic mix of Michael Buble, Janelle Monae, Matt Nathanson, Adele, and Earth, Wind, and Fire. Confident in his musical taste, Phelps said it’s the best station ever.

As for other bests, he said the best ending could be found in his favorite film, “The Prestige.” His favorite book, “The Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gladwell, is also top-notch as a bestseller.

Working as a director for the SOURCE, he and his team strive to do the best work possible. Together, they build a campus brand aligned with effectiveness and efficiency, he said.

“My team is not here to simply control or supervise organizations, but to build infrastructure for campus leaders to further pursue their passions,” Phelps said.

This includes publicizing SOURCE opportunities and resources as well as creating, developing and implementing projects that increase the impact of campus leaders.

Phelps said his team is also finalizing two new projects. The first, SOURCE Course, uses a series of videos to demonstrate useful online tools and basic campus functions.

The second is called the Lasso. This tool will act as an activity database offering leaders creative ways to promote teamwork and harmonious collaboration.

This type of synergy has started within Phelps’ own group. He said it’s been a joy and honor to work with his teammates and fellow directors.

“I have certainly asked an absurd number of questions and made lots of mistakes, but I am confident we can continue our momentum into the future,” he said.

SOURCE Rebranding

The SOURCE is rebranding with a new logo, posters and flyers to help get the word out to student organizations on campus. Keep an eye out for our new advertisements in the Ferguson Center and around campus. Our new advertisements consist of speech bubbles to help represent student voices and different questions they may have. We want student organizations to be more aware of the SOURCE and the different resources we can supply to them. 

“We also want the SOURCE to be more visible to students to give them information about involvement opportunities on campus,” said Daniel Connors, Director of Communications for the SOURCE. “If students have any questions, please call 205.348.6114 or come stop by the 3^rd floor of the Ferguson Center. 

Nancy Coresa Hogan, Director of Fiscal Affairs

by Elisabeth García

            Nancy Coresa Hogan’s three names are pretty well known across campus. What students may not know is that the Source Director of Fiscal Affairs is not interested in running a power structure. 

            “It’s really funny,” she said. “I’m not a politician. I’m just an advocate for change.”

            Over the course of a few minutes, you realize she’s no ordinary student. In fact, she is full of surprises.

            Hogan is a senior majoring in marketing and apparel & textiles with a concentration in fashion retail.

            She has a minor in Spanish and, as a member of the International Honors Program, plans to study abroad. But she doesn’t think she wants to go to Spain or South America.

            “Ironically, I don’t want to study abroad in a Spanish speaking country,” she said.

            Instead, she’d like to visit locations in Italy such as Florence or the fashion provinces. She might bend towards Malaga, Spain, but she said she wants to go somewhere coastal, not somewhere targeted towards tourists.

            Hogan works as a sales associate for Altar’d State, which is a Christian retail store. She said there might be a future with the company, perhaps as a marketing intern.

            She also dreams of a TOMS internship, with the ultimate goal of working in fashion politics. She said she’s particularly interested in matters such as international fair trade and textiles within international trade.

            Though she said she’s not interested in politics, she has a list of leadership experiences credited to her name.

            Hogan is the president of the Anderson Society. The society comprises the top 24 leaders on campus, so you could say that, as president, Hogan is the ultimate campus leader.

            She is also president of the Coordinating Council of Honor Societies and the executive assistant for the Black Student Union.

            Additionally, she said she works with UA Movement, known primarily for its work with TOMS but also serving as a philanthropic organization.

            Additionally, she envisions a potential future at the forefront of an organization with the ability to be her own boss. No matter the path she chooses, Hogan said she doesn’t want to be tied to one career.

            Hearing of all her accomplishments, you might think this comes from the drive of being the eldest child but her situation is quite the opposite.

            “I am the baby baby,” she said.

            Hogan is the youngest of six siblings and the youngest of 20 grandchildren.

            Originally from Birmingham, Ala., her siblings are spread across the United States with a wide range of careers from chef to stay-at-home mom.

            Another surprise comes from Hogan’s movie interests.

            “I love action movies,” she said. “I love things blowing up, exploding, gunfights.”

            Hogan also enjoys espionage movies and historical action like “The 300.” She emphasized that she does not enjoy chick flicks.

            As for television, she tunes in to criminal based shows such as Law & Order: SVU, Cold Case and Criminal Minds.

            Like many other students, she does not often find time to read, but she cited “Their Eyes were Watching God” and Toni Morrison’s “Song of Solomon” among her favorites.

            Many of her hours are spent at the SOURCE office. As a director, she is at the Ferguson every day, including weekends, for up to seven hours at a time.            

            Each day, she wades through a sea of emails that constantly bombard her inbox, only to begin again the following morning.

            She also plans and facilitates foresight meetings once a month, which all student organizations must attend once before applying for funds.

            Additionally, as part of the Financial Affairs Committee (FAC), she attends three-hour meetings to learn about updated information. She then explains requirements to the other SOURCE directors and organization leaders.

            Working with the directors doesn’t stop with explanations. She also maintains their budgets, as well as her own.

            Executive board members can particularly appreciate Hogan’s work. She plans the yearly ReSource Fair, which resembles a wedding expo for organization leaders.

            Leaders receive free merchandise while browsing various vendor stalls, with the idea of gaining valuable contacts for various event essentials. Vendors range from caterers to t-shirt companies.

            Hogan may not be a politician, but one thing is certain. She’s making an impact on lives at UA.