Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was founded on January 9, 1913 at Howard University in Washington, D.C. It was founded by 22 women on the ideals of sisterhood, scholarship and service. Comprised of more than 300,000 members and over 1,000 chapters in the Bahamas, Bermuda, England, Germany, Jamaica, Japan (Tokyo and Okinawa), Liberia, South Korea, United States of America and Virgin Islands, this is the largest African-American Greek lettered organization. Here on our campus, our current beauty of the week is a perfect representation of the beauty, class and intelligence of this organization.

Meet Laura Collier, a senior graduating in May of 2016 with a degree in Arts & Humanities. Check out my question and answer session with Laura to find out just why she is so unique.

What are some of your hobbies and what are some of your experiences at MSU that have shaped your overall experience here?

I am a member of the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities, which has had an immense impact on my experience here at MSU. The relationships that are formed between the professors and students because of the small class sizes allow for a great discussion-based learning environment. I have also loved being a part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Leadership Conference committee. The number of talented student leaders on campus is amazing and this weekend is always a great time to see how passionate MSU students are about issues revolving around social justice.

What are some things that you want to accomplish in life?

I ultimately would love to give back to my community. I am not sure through what capacity, but I do believe that it is important to be involved in your community. I would also love to impact youth because they are our future.

What is your ultimate career goal?

I am still exploring what I would like to do career wise. But as stated before, I would love for my career to tie in with having a direct impact in society.

What advice would you give to younger girls here at Michigan State?

I would advise young women at MSU to be open to exploring the plethora of opportunities here at this university. Take classes outside of your major and take advantage of opportunities that you may have never thought about. You never know what may spark your interest. I have realized throughout my time here that it is important to customize your experience.

What are some responsibilities that you have being the president of your sorority?

I have loved being the president of the Epsilon Epsilon chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. thus far. While the workload is very heavy, being able to see the fruits of our labor is very rewarding. At the beginning of the school year we were able to donate over 40 backpacks full of school supplies to Willow Elementary in Lansing. We have also executed a week of programming during our Delta Week where we informed the campus about a specific type of breast cancer that impacts black women in particular among other topics. It is my responsibility to ensure that our chapter is adhering to the Five-Point Programmatic Thrust as set by our national organization. It is also my responsibility to ensure our chapter is upholding the standards of our organization and making an impact here at MSU.

What would you tell the Laura from 10 years ago? What advice would you give yourself?

I would tell Laura from 10 years ago to love the skin that she is in and to acknowledge her intelligence. Middle school is a tough time for girls in general, but that phase will not last.

I have a great support network of women in my life. Encompassing my family, great friends and mentors. Each of them inspires me on an daily basis. Their unconditional love and support gives me the strength to do anything that I set my mind to.

Who inspires you the most? If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why that person?

I would have dinner with First Lady, Michelle Obama. I love how she carries herself and not only acts as an obvious support system for her family, but she also creates programs for the children and military families within our country. I really admire her.

What are some of your hobbies?

I love to read, play the violin, watch movies and spend time with my family.

What is your favorite holiday and why?

My favorite holiday is Christmas because I get to spend quality time with my entire network of friends and family. The atmosphere during Christmas is something that I look forward to every year.

What made you choose to pursue membership into your sorority?

A number of the women who I grew up around are members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Seeing how involved they are in their communities and how proudly they represent and wear their letters made me want to learn more about the organization. On a larger scale, there are countless numbers of women who are powerful and successful in their own rights who also represent our organization. The principles and values upon which Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. were founded on are all ones that I hope to uphold and exhibit during my lifetime.