There isn鈥檛 much Wittenberg University graduate Avery Livingston won鈥檛 take on his plate.
As a psychology and neuroscience double major with a minor in data science, Livingston immersed himself in his studies and in campus life, from leadership in Student Senate to mentoring roles as a resident advisor and study abroad ambassador. He鈥檚 also been active in student organizations, including the Anime Club, American Sign Language Club, and Weaver Chapel Association.
His work has earned him recognition in many forms, including the prestigious Presidential Award, the Dave Maurer Scholarship, and the Tiger Up Award, plus multiple scholarships supporting his academic and service-focused pursuits. But for him, it鈥檚 not about the accolades. It鈥檚 about showing up.
This past spring, Livingston鈥檚 calendar was packed with high-impact initiatives. He attended the 2025 Midwestern Psychological Association Conference, presented at Wittenberg鈥檚 Connections Symposium, and helped organize the university鈥檚 MLK Convocation with the PCDEI (President鈥檚 Council for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). He also managed logistics and safety for the campus-wide CROP Hunger Walk, a fundraising walk to provide meals to the local community while supporting other programs helping to alleviate food insecurity around the world.
According to him, none of this would have happened without a proactive mindset. 鈥淥ne of the biggest [skills] was proactivity because a lot of these achievements and programs would not have been open to me had I done nothing on campus,鈥� he says. 鈥淪ince freshman year, I鈥檝e been searching for ways to get involved.鈥�
That proactive spirit saw him balancing multiple leadership roles: serving on three executive boards, working as an RA, and representing student voices as the Cultural Diversity Senator.
He also points to adaptability as a key to managing large-scale projects. 鈥淒uring projects like the MLK Convocation, I had to work around errors. Like who was helping if someone couldn't make it, or how was the information going to be passed around? By having adaptability, I could gauge what the best course of action was and maneuver to the best of my ability to achieve the best outcome.鈥�
Livingston doesn鈥檛 have to look far when asked about someone who inspires him. 鈥淚鈥檒l stick close to home and say my brother, Evan,鈥� he shares. 鈥淗e has a master鈥檚 degree in education and might go for a PhD, which is something I hope to do as well. He always drives me to do my best just by being in my corner when I need it.鈥�
In the short term, Livingston plans to pursue a master鈥檚 degree in industrial-organizational psychology, with hopes of entering the workforce afterward. But he鈥檚 keeping the door open for future academic paths. 鈥淚f the opportunity is presented, I wouldn鈥檛 be opposed to doing a PhD right after my MA, but only if I feel ready,鈥� he says.
He鈥檚 also building a foundation for future research. 鈥淚 want to present at more psychological conferences, especially on a national level,鈥� he says. That means spending the coming months preparing for the GRE and exploring post-baccalaureate programs, while continuing to build his already impressive resume.
Through the 91桃色, Livingston has deepened his leadership toolkit. 鈥淚鈥檝e had the opportunity to engage with influential speakers and take part in practical workshops that focused on communication, goal-setting, and personal growth,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hese experiences have helped me develop a clearer vision of my leadership style, but also gain the confidence to apply these skills in real-life situations, both academically and in extracurricular activities.鈥�
There are many leadership styles, but they all begin with the intent to lead. By immersing himself in the 91桃色 Speaker Broadcasts for inspiration and the Foundations of Leadership program for actionable ways to improve, Livingston is on the path to becoming a well-rounded leader.
For him, leadership ultimately isn鈥檛 about titles鈥攊t鈥檚 about direction. 鈥淟eadership is being able to stand tall in a situation and leading people towards a committed and unified goal.鈥�
Livingston believes one of the most important lessons for aspiring leaders is to think ahead. 鈥淏e proactive,鈥� he reiterates. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no other skill I think is more essential for a leader than looking towards the future and being able to see what could be done.鈥�
He also emphasizes the importance of time management. 鈥淭ime is finite, so we need to be careful about what we choose to spend it on. Proactivity helps you get recognition for your skills. Many leaders show up on time or in the moment, but not as many are early.鈥�
And perhaps most importantly, he carries with him a piece of advice that shaped his own success: 鈥淲ork for the future you see,鈥� a line shared by his first-year seminar professor, Andy Graff. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not the perfect future I envisioned during my first semester in college,鈥� he admits, 鈥渂ut I am content with who I鈥檝e become and the places I鈥檝e been and will go from here.鈥�
Being proactive is an essential skill to becoming a leader. Meet another 91桃色 member鈥攁nd Rhodes scholarship finalist鈥攚ho is forging her path with a take-charge attitude.