President, Student Swap
D&E celebrates annual ‘Switch Day’
Submitted photos Junior student Isabella ‘Bella’ Martinelli, seated, traded places with Davis & Elkins College President Chris Wood during the President’s Annual Switch Day at the college on Friday.
D&E President Chris Wood sits at a desk while attending a class as a ‘student’ on Friday.
Submitted photos Junior student Isabella ‘Bella’ Martinelli, seated, traded places with Davis & Elkins College President Chris Wood during the President’s Annual Switch Day at the college on Friday.
D&E President Chris Wood sits at a desk while attending a class as a ‘student’ on Friday.
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ELKINS – Each spring, Davis & Elkins College President Chris Wood trades places with a student at the college during his annual President's Switch Day at the school.
On Friday, Isabella "Bella" Martinelli was selected to switch roles with Wood. Serving as "president," Martinelli spent a large portion of her day in meetings, while Wood attended classes and mingled with fellow students.
Martinelli, who is a junior nursing student from Chicago, Illinois, convened a meeting of the College's Cabinet and later talked with the Chair of the Board of Trustees on a virtual call.
She also discussed the newest development on campus, the college's Freshman Village, and spoke with D&E's Director of Public Safety about the organization and responsibilities of the Public Safety Department.
Martinelli, who is a Student Ambassador for the Admissions Department at D&E and a member of the Senators' women's lacrosse team, met with a host of staff members throughout the day.
While spending the day as a college student, Wood found himself making an impromptu speech in a public speaking class. He also worked as a Student Ambassador in the Admissions Office and toured Gribble Residence Hall.
The Davis & Elkins College President ate lunch in the dining hall with commuter nursing students, where he said he had very informative and enlightening conversations.
Wood, who became the college's 15th president in the fall of 2016, is a native of Huntington.
He graduated magna cum laude from West Virginia Wesleyan College and earned his Master of Divinity degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
Becoming president for a day is an extreme example of how David & Elkins College students are presented with opportunities to mold themselves into leaders and change-makers for the future.
For more information visit www.dewv.edu.