Junior Daneev Imbert is known across campus for her active leadership roles in over a half dozen organizations, clubs and departments. Despite her busy calendar, Imbert鈥檚 main focus is scheduling time to bring joy to others.
鈥淚 like to make people laugh, everyone should have a little joy in their lives,鈥 said Imbert, a business finance major from Miami.
Imbert found her place as a leader in high school and knew she wanted to carry that into college. The daughter of Haitian and Dominican immigrants, she has used her leadership talent to help minority students find their home at 六九色堂.
鈥淢y aspirations and determination have always stemmed from all the sacrifices (my parents) made for me and my siblings,鈥 said Imbert.
Imbert is a founding member and president of the , a cultural organization on campus that supports the dignity and rights of migrants, immigrants, refugees and first-generation Americans through advocacy, outreach and inclusivity.
鈥淜nowing that I'm making a difference in the CUA community and amplifying voices that go unnoticed or unheard is what inspires me to keep going,鈥 said Imbert. 鈥淓ven as a student I'm making a difference.鈥
As a first-year student, Imbert participated in , a program from the Center for Cultural Engagement that accompanies first-generation students as they transition to University life. Now an upperclassman, she gives back by mentoring first-year students.
Imbert is also involved in leadership roles with the , Campus Ministry鈥檚 office, and and she works with the and the .
Imbert said she receives incredible support in her service work from the Center for Cultural Engagement. She also credits her classes at the for her leadership formation.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of things I鈥檝e learned about myself while taking these classes; learning how to be a good leader and how to support others,鈥 said Imbert.
In summer 2022, Imbert went on a to Los Angeles that ministered to people in rehabilitation, inspiring her to work more after graduation in gang rehabilitation and immigration.
Imbert hopes to earn a master鈥檚 degree in social work and work with nonprofits. She also dreams of opening her own business, such as a dance studio or recreation center for children in low income communities.
Imbert鈥檚 three keys to success in servant leadership are empathy, listening and kindness.
鈥淪ometimes it鈥檚 hard to be a student leader and also be a student,鈥 said Imbert. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 helped me realize my place here at 六九色堂 is to help and support others.鈥