S. Leigh Prouty

S. Leigh Prouty
Unit Assistant Director
University Student Housing

Leigh Prouty is an exemplary role model for servant leadership. While there are many instances of how this person leads by example, the most powerful highlights her actions while she was the leadership team on-call staff member last fall. When law enforcement began to show up in force at a location on campus, the student staff called for assistance. When she called me to let us know what was going on, she did not ask if she should go to campus, she said she was headed in. She was joined by a colleague, but it took both of them and the other staff to manage this situation. She was asked to protect our students, staff, and to keep everyone as safe as she could. She handled the stress and the tragic circumstances of this situation with grace and compassion. She assisted the law enforcement agencies and helped to work with the students in the area. Most of her time was spent answering questions from students and parents who were scared and she kept the student staff calm. When the incident was over, both leadership staff members sat down and created a checklist of what to do should something like this happen again. It is our hope it never does, but because of her diligence, we are ready. She risked her personal safety to go into a volatile situation and supported others through a difficult time. Leigh has proven herself to be a pillar of strength within University Student Housing.