Rockefeller Leadership Fellow: Alex Chivers '17

This series introduces the 2016-2017 Rockefeller Leadership Fellows. Each fellow reflects on why he or she wanted to be a part of the program and what aspects of leadership most interests them.

The military teaches outstanding principles of leadership. As a young Non-Commissioned Officer, I had to learn how to synthesize limited or conflicting information quickly and make decisions under intense pressure. I learned that a leader is ultimately accountable for everything that the group succeeds or fails to do, a much easier principle to accept when things run smoothly. Yet even with these experiences, I realized that leadership takes many forms and facets. The authoritative leadership style developed by young combat leaders is excellent for many situations, but I hope to develop a more nuanced and balanced leadership style and philosophy in RLF.

For the past several years, I have volunteered with a non-profit organization called Service 2 School, which assists enlisted military veterans with applying to top academic institutions. We offer free SAT/ACT prep, resume review, application essay assistance and interview preparation. I am currently the Director of Undergraduate Operations at Service 2 School, overseeing 161 Ambassadors and 561 applicants. This experience has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. I believe that I have begun to make adjustments and grow in my position, but I remain eager to learn more about dealing with large, disparate groups and motivating different people in different manners. I hope my participation in RLF will help me develop into a more dynamic leader.

Alex Chivers ’17 is from Summit, NJ. Alex served in the United States Army as an Army Ranger and Non-Commissioned Officer, deploying multiple times to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. At Dartmouth, he is a Cognitive Science major and Outreach Director for the Dartmouth Undergraduate Veterans Association. Alex also serves as the Director of Undergraduate Operations for Service 2 School, a non-profit that assists enlisted military veterans in applying to selective universities, and previously interned in Washington D.C. on the House Committee of Veterans Affairs. After graduation, Alex hopes to pursue a graduate degree in Public Policy.

Edited by Rachel Favors '18, Rockefeller Center Student Program Assistant for Communications