Over the years, Students For Liberty has had the opportunity to work closely with hundreds of student activists who have gone on to accomplish incredible things.

One such leader is Campus Coordinator Emily Reynolds who is an Economics student at Florida Gulf Coast University. We sat down with Emily to talk about her involvement with SFL and her accomplishments as a Campus Coordinator.

If you are interested in applying to be a Campus Coordinator, click here.

David Clement: How long have you been involved with SFL and what roles have you taken on?

Emily Reynolds: I’ve been involved with Students For Liberty for about a year now. It was about this time in 2015 that I applied for the Campus Coordinator Program after being encouraged by another CC at the 8th Annual ISFLC. I was already an officer for my club and had been to a few seminars and conferences, but it was that amazing weekend that encouraged me to get involved with SFL. I’ve been a CC this school year while serving as President of our libertarian club, Eagles for Liberty, at Florida Gulf Coast University. My work with SFL has included helping to organize a regional conference and taking on the role of director for a Focus Series Conference.

David: Your student club was nominated for Group of the Year. What did that mean to you and your fellow club members?

Emily: It was such an honor! Our officers and members have put a lot of time and work into our involvement this year, and it was extremely exciting and rewarding to be nominated. The recognition was a landmark for our success and growth as an organization. I also want to mention the contributions of Lynanne Lowry, a fellow CC and Vice President of our group, whose involvement has been an integral part of the club’s achievement and activities.

Above all, I’m honored to have shared a nomination with such amazing groups from around the world. The activism that the student groups from Brazil, Venezuela, the Netherlands, and the US have done is absolutely inspirational. The fact that students from so many walks of life are promoting the ideas of freedom further shows how universal and innately human this cause is. I am equally humbled and proud for my group to have been named among the nominees.

David: What type of activism has your club taken on over the past year?

Emily: Our activism has focused on education and spreading awareness about particular policies on campus and globally. We held meetings about university issues such as a smoking ban and concealed carry policy, as well as national and international issues such as school choice and sex work. We host about 3-5 speakers per semester and encourage members to present on particular topics they care about. In addition to meetings, we usually include some kind of interactive activity into our weekly tabling. We also hosted the very first Florida Gulf Coast Regional Conference at our campus! It had a great turnout and got a lot of people interested in our club.

David: You mentioned that you are a conference director for an upcoming Focus Series Conference, can you tell us more about that?

Emily: For the focus series conference I’m directing, the topic I’ve chosen is free market environmentalism. It’s an important topic to me personally and sustainability is an integral part of my campus’s mission. I wanted to incorporate local knowledge and interest into the conference curriculum, so environmental issues seemed perfect. The event will be on April 2nd and will feature topics such as food freedom, global environmental trends, and issues related to Florida’s ecology. To register for the conference, click here!

David: If someone is interested in SFL’s leadership programs, what would you tell them?

Emily: I would tell them to apply for the Campus Coordinator program! I have personally gotten a lot out of SFL’s resources, and the roles I’ve taken on have made me grow as a professional. Being a CC has encouraged me to take on responsibilities and develop important communication skills. At the same time, I get to promote ideas and issues I feel passionately about, and network with students from all over the country who do as well. Even if you don’t plan on pursuing a career in activism, academia, or politics, you’ll develop a unique set of skills, experiences, and knowledge you can bring to the table professionally, all while advancing the goals of liberty. If you care deeply about human flourishing and individual liberty, the Campus Coordinator program has something for you.