Leadership Roles

Student Recruitment for The University of Alabama

April 2023 - December 2025

Working as a Recruitment Assistant has been one of the most rewarding leadership experiences I’ve had. In this role, I serve as a bridge between the University of Alabama and prospective students, helping them see what makes our campus so special. My responsibilities go far beyond giving tours or answering questions — I’m representing the university’s values, fostering connections, and creating meaningful first impressions that can shape a student’s decision to attend.

Leadership in this position means leading by example every single day. I’ve learned how to communicate confidently, manage my time effectively, and adapt to all kinds of personalities and situations. Whether I’m speaking to a room full of high school seniors, helping a nervous parent feel at ease, or coordinating with faculty and other staff, I have to stay organized, empathetic, and professional.

This role has also taught me the importance of teamwork. I have worked closely together with some of the most professional staff and faculty to ensure every event — from daily campus tours to large-scale visit days — runs smoothly. I’ve learned how to step up when leadership is needed, but also how to support others and collaborate for a shared goal.

Most importantly, being a recruitment assistant has shown me what it means to lead through service. Leadership is about using my knowledge and compassion to make future students feel welcome and inspired. It’s a role that requires both confidence and humility — knowing when to take charge and when to simply listen — and it’s helped me grow into a more intentional, empathetic, and effective leader.

Next Step Opportunities

August 2024 - Present

Capstone Communication Day

February 2025 & February 2026

Web Design and Creation

April 2023- Present

Pastor Search Committee

September 2023 - May 2025

Bylaws Revision Committee

May 2025 - Present

Financial Committee

September 2025 - Present

Scholarship Committee

September 2025 - Present

Stepping into my travel recruitment leadership role marked a major turning point in my growth as both a communicator and a leader. When I first started traveling alone to represent the University of Alabama at different high schools, I realized just how much trust and responsibility came with the position. I was no longer just assisting — I was the face of the university in new communities, fully responsible for managing events, building relationships, and making lasting impressions on students and counselors.

Travel recruitment pushed me to grow in confidence, independence, and adaptability. Each school visit required preparation, professionalism, and quick thinking. No two visits were ever the same — every audience, schedule, and question was different. I learned how to adjust my communication style to connect with different age groups, answer unexpected questions, and keep presentations engaging while maintaining a sense of warmth and authenticity.

Representing the university on my own taught me how to lead with initiative. I had to organize my travel plans, manage my materials, and ensure every detail reflected the high standards of our recruitment program. It also deepened my sense of purpose — knowing that my words and energy could inspire a student from a small-town high school to see themselves at Alabama reminded me why I love what I do.

This experience strengthened my ability to lead with confidence, humility, and care. Traveling solo wasn’t just about independence; it was about carrying the responsibility of being a role model and using my leadership to open doors for others.

Travel Recruitment Representative

August 2024 - December 2025

Creating my mentor role with Next Step Opportunities has been one of the most purposeful and impactful leadership experiences I’ve ever taken on. I developed this position out of a clear need I saw in my community — students who were bright, capable, and driven, but lacked access to personalized guidance in preparing for college and future careers. By partnering with The University of Alabama and local schools, I was able to build a structured mentorship program that gives high school students the tools, confidence, and direction they need to succeed after graduation.

This role has been deeply productive because it combines planning, teaching, and leadership development in a hands-on way. I created and led workshops to help students complete university and financial aid applications, hosted resume and cover letter revision sessions, and provided interview and communication training. These experiences helped students learn how to present themselves professionally and navigate the transition from high school to higher education with confidence.

What makes this mentorship program so necessary is that it fills a real gap in college readiness support for rural and underserved students. I’ve worked closely with administrators, parents, and counselors to identify barriers and create practical solutions that open doors to opportunity. Beyond academics, I focus on helping students develop leadership skills and self-assurance — qualities that will carry them far beyond the classroom.

Through this role, I’ve seen firsthand how meaningful mentorship can transform the way students see themselves and their futures. It’s not just about preparing them for college; it’s about empowering them to believe that they belong there.

My leadership role in organizing Capstone Communication Day was one of the most hands-on and collaborative experiences I’ve had. I was responsible for helping create the event schedule and coordinating communication with everyone involved — from faculty members and student ambassadors to guest speakers and prospective students. It required a balance of organization, professionalism, and teamwork to make sure every part of the day ran smoothly.

Creating the schedule meant planning each session’s timing, assigning locations, and ensuring transitions between presentations were seamless. I had to think through logistics carefully, anticipate potential challenges, and adjust when changes came up. Reaching out to participants also helped me strengthen my communication skills — I had to be clear, courteous, and confident in my messages while managing multiple moving parts.

What made this leadership experience meaningful was how it taught me to lead through coordination and connection. It wasn’t just about making sure everyone showed up; it was about ensuring that every participant felt informed, valued, and prepared. Seeing the event come together and watching students engage with what we had planned was incredibly rewarding.

Through this experience, I learned how to manage large-scale projects, communicate across different departments, and handle last-minute adjustments with calm and professionalism. It reminded me that strong leadership is often about preparation and teamwork — the behind-the-scenes effort that allows others to shine

My work as a Website Developer began as a small creative project and quickly evolved into a leadership role that allowed me to combine communication, design, and strategy in a meaningful way. Since April 2023, I’ve designed and developed several websites — including those for the Collinsville Historical Association, Friendship Force of Huntsville, and my personal site, kaylabeene.org — each created to help organizations share their stories, reach their audiences, and strengthen their digital presence.

What started as a passion for design turned into a service that helped community groups and local leaders bring their missions online. I worked closely with each organization to plan site structure, choose visual themes, and craft messaging that reflected their goals and values. Every project was unique, but the goal was the same — to create websites that were not only visually appealing but also purposeful and easy to navigate.

Over time, my role expanded from designer to educator. I began teaching others how to manage and update their own websites, walking them through domain management, content editing, and event updates. This part of my work has been especially rewarding because it empowers organizations to take ownership of their online presence long-term.

This experience has taught me how to merge creativity with communication strategy, manage client relationships, and guide others through a process that can often feel overwhelming. It’s more than web design — it’s about giving people the tools and confidence to share their work with the world effectively and authentically.

When I was nineteen, my church voted for me to serve on our Pastor Search Committee, and that experience shaped me more than I realized at the time. Being trusted with a role that carried so much responsibility at such a young age made me feel both humbled and motivated. I understood how important the decision was for our church family, and stepping into that position showed me how naturally I gravitated toward leadership. It was one of the first moments where I recognized how much I enjoyed guiding, listening, collaborating, and helping others move toward a shared goal. Looking back, it was one of the earliest experiences that fueled my passion for serving people, supporting a community that I love deeply, and being a positive influence in the lives of others.

That experience also taught me how important it is to listen well and approach every decision with intention. I learned how to communicate with people of different ages, backgrounds, and perspectives, and how to represent the needs of a group rather than myself. It showed me that leadership is not about authority but about service, integrity, and being willing to step into difficult conversations with maturity. Being nineteen and entrusted with that role helped me grow quickly, and it confirmed that I wanted to spend my life in positions where I could support others, help them navigate big decisions, and contribute to meaningful progress.

After serving on the Pastor Search Committee, my church later voted for me to be part of the Church Bylaws Revision Committee. Being trusted again, especially in a role that required such careful attention to detail and respect for the structure of the church, meant a great deal to me. It showed me that my church family not only believed in my character but also in my ability to think critically, communicate clearly, and handle serious responsibilities with maturity. Being included in a group that was responsible for reviewing, updating, and improving the policies that shape how our church functions was both an honor and a significant learning experience.

Working on the revision committee taught me how to approach complex information with patience and clarity. I learned how to interpret policy language, understand the purpose behind each guideline, and collaborate with others to create changes that would support the long term health and organization of the church. It strengthened my leadership skills in a different way by showing me how structure, policy, and communication work together to create a strong foundation for any organization. That experience further confirmed how much I value being in spaces where thoughtful leadership, careful planning, and genuine service come together to make a meaningful impact.

Not long after that, my church voted for me to serve on the Financial Committee, which added an entirely new layer to my growth as a leader. Being trusted with financial oversight and stewardship responsibilities reminded me again how much confidence my church family placed in me. The work required transparency, organization, and a clear understanding of how financial decisions affect every part of the church. Sitting at the table for those conversations taught me how to evaluate needs, prioritize resources, and think about long term sustainability. It was a different type of responsibility, but one that helped me understand the importance of thoughtful decision making in any organizational setting.

I also became aware that I was the youngest member on every committee I served on. Instead of feeling out of place, it made me incredibly grateful. It meant people saw potential in me long before I fully saw it in myself. Being consistently trusted with roles that carried weight and influence at such a young age shaped the way I carry myself now. It helped me build confidence, learn how to communicate respectfully in rooms full of older and more experienced leaders, and understand that age does not limit impact. Those experiences strengthened my desire to pursue leadership roles and confirmed that serving people with integrity is something I want to do throughout my career.

Most recently, my church voted for me to serve on our Scholarship Committee, which is one of the roles that means the most to me. They chose me because they know how passionate I am about helping high school students further their education and how strongly I believe that money should never be the reason a student misses out on an opportunity. Our church sponsors multiple scholarships each year for graduating seniors at Collinsville High School, and being part of the team that helps guide those decisions is something I take very seriously. It allows me to invest in students at one of the most important turning points in their lives and to support them as they take their next steps.

Serving on the Scholarship Committee has also deepened my understanding of how important it is to recognize potential, support ambition, and remove barriers wherever possible. Reading applications, hearing students’ stories, and watching the difference these scholarships make has only strengthened my passion for working with high school students. It reminds me why I chose the academic path I did and why I am so committed to a career that helps students plan, prepare, and believe in their future.