The Department of Spiritual Life and Intercultural Leadership opened applications for student leadership positions earlier this semester. The positions open for the 2026—2027 school year were announced on March 2, and the application period continued until March 15.
The department encouraged students with a heart for Taylor’s ongoing spiritual growth and intercultural efforts to apply. Multiple student leadership positions open for hire were associated with the Office of Intercultural Programs (OIP). These available roles included the International Orientation (IO) co-director, the International Student Society (ISS) co-president, and co-president spots for the third culture organization MuKappa (MK), the Multicultural Student Association (MSA), the Middle Eastern Association (MEA), the Latino Student Union (LSU), the Asia Students Intercultural Association (ASIA), and the Black Student Union (BSU).
Applications for Chapel Coordinator and Executive Assistant to the Community Gospel Choir director were also open.
The responsibilities of being a chapel coordinator are largely administrative, said Tobiaz Ray, sophomore Christian Ministries major. Ray’s job includes moving music equipment and chairs, distributing information and assisting with special events. They also manage hosting touring bands and handling candles during Taylor’s annual Silent Night service. Ray hoped to be a lead pastor in the future and found value in the behind-the-scenes process, he said.
“It’s impactful to see how much the spiritual part does, bits of how chapel is planned and how much intentionality and prayer goes into it,” Ray said.
A co-president role is a shared responsibility, with a mixture of organizing practical details such as reserving rooms and bringing food while also “delegat(ing)” and build(ing) future leaders” from the cabinet, said Estah McKim, a sophomore psychology student and co-president of Taylor’s Black Student Union.
Student-organized clubs aligned with the OIP work to provide events the student body will enjoy while sharing their culture in a respectful way.
“We want somebody who is excited and passionate, not just a resume builder,” McKim said. “We want their heart posture to be the thing they want to do.”
A large part of each student leadership role is working with others. An attitude of service is important when gauging interest and scheduling the upcoming year’s calendar of events, she said.
“Love the people you’re working with and communicate your needs,” McKim said.
Working with people also means fostering good relationships with the students and faculty that individuals work alongside. Because of this, Ray grew closer with the people he worked with during his time as Chapel Coordinator, he said.
“I knew maybe one person before, but (now) I’m really good friends with everyone,” Ray said. “It was an opportunity to get to know the team across campus.”
The application process for each position varies with the type and amount of responsibilities. Ray met with Reverend Greg Dyson several times during his application process as chapel coordinator. Presidential positions are decided upon by faculty, but the process of choosing cabinet members is student-led, with co-presidents observing applicants and later inviting them for an informal interview, McKim said.
Encouraging students to give their time to leading aspects of the student body is a core part of Taylor’s mission for developing servant leaders, said Nate Chu, the executive director of spiritual life and intercultural leadership.
Chu encouraged anyone interested in these roles to consider applying for future positions.
“All the events that come out of the Office for Intercultural Programs (OIP) and the 102 chapel services that happen per year are a conduit in which we can do leadership development,” Chu said. “Your time at Taylor is formative, and regardless of what you do leadership is a form of a calling not fully formed.”
