By: Katelyn Norris
For Kelze’ Riley, her love for politics began at a young age. Her family was heavily involved with the Democratic party, and in 2008, Barack and Michelle Obama started to serve as inspirations for her. This spark that started then has affected every aspect of her life from her major to clubs and organizations she joined to her lifelong passions.
“As I got older and learned that the government influences most aspects of our daily life, I wanted to get involved and go to law school.” Riley said. “My interest has had a major impact on my career choice…as a prosecutor and work my way up to being governor or a senator,”
Riley is a junior at Bellarmine University where she is majors in political science with a minor in criminal justice. She is also on the pre-law track. Politics isn’t Riley’s only passion. She has a deep love for servant leadership, which is evident in her extra-curricular activities on campus.
“I am passionate about service and in many of the positions I hold on campus I am able to serve not only the Bellarmine community but the Louisville community,” Riley said. “I am able to help and watch others grow as leaders, which is very rewarding.”
She is a resident assistant, an Alternative Spring Break co-director, Pioneer Scholars peer mentor and Student Government Association vice president of community engagement and campus culture. From this wide variety of leadership roles, Riley has put herself into positions where she can help others and make a difference at BU.
“I do not have a favorite [position I serve], because each fills me in different ways,” Riley said.
Riley said Alternative Spring Break (ASB) is the “ultimate program” for servant leadership at Bellarmine. Through this program She has gone to Selma, Alabama, twice and had the opportunity to help others have an immersive service experience. Riley co-directs ASB with Grace Walsh, a junior at BU.
Walsh said Riley was fully committed to creating the best trips and service opportunities for students on ASB. She also said Riley is goal-oriented and once she [Riley] sets her sights on something, she will work toward it with conviction.
“Kelze’ stepped up in a big way when we had a leadership shift for Alternative Spring Break,” Walsh said. “When a leader could no longer commit to going on a trip with us, Kelze’ took it upon herself to lead the trip in addition to her role as co-student director.”
Walsh spoke about a sentiment that shined a light on how much stock Riley puts into servant leadership. She said Riley is always aware that there are people counting on her to get a task done due to “her talents and abilities to do big things.”
Brooke Wilson, director of student activities at Bellarmine, oversees ASB and worked heavily with Riley and Walsh during this year’s program. Wilson said she is fond of Riley and said it was an honor to be a part of her journey at BU.
“Kelze’ possesses great stamina and curiosity, enabling her to deeply connect with others and work toward a common goal,” Wilson said.
Wilson also said one way Riley helps her organizations reach their goals is through her collaborative approach to problem solving. Through ASB and all of the other organizations in which Riley is involved, Wilson said she believes Riley will be able to carry what she learns to whatever career path she chooses.
“Her passions are rooted in a larger desire for justice and restoration,” Wilson said.
Riley said she has grown a lot thanks to her position as a resident assistant. She attributes this growth to both her residents and her co-workers/friends in Residence Life.
“My residents have changed my life for the better and helped me grow as leader and as a person.” Riley said. “I have been blessed to have amazing residents throughout my time on Res Life and amazing supervisors that really have helped guide me.”
Resident Life Coordinator Patrick Riley is one of the many supervisors who has guided her along her journey. He said during the time he has known her, he has seen Riley grow more confident and “identify a purpose for her leadership.” He also said she is dedicated to her residents and always advocates for them.
“She selflessly listens to her residents’ needs in order to build a community everyone can be proud of, and I admire that from someone at the paraprofessional level,” he said.
He said Riley has an astute understanding of leadership and she is always wanting to grow and to seek out new opportunities she is passionate about.
“There are all times when we can get complacent at where we are with a certain skill,” he said. “I believe Kelze’ understands there are always things to improve and view differently.”
Mary Grandinetti, assistant director of academic enrichment, said she can see how passionate Riley is about her position in a Pioneer Scholars mentor.
“Kelze’ is very involved on campus, but when she was working one-on-one with her mentees, I see her focusing completely on the needs of that particular mentee.” Grandinetti said. “ She is also very passionate about ensuring that the Pioneers programming is aligned with what the first-year students need and want.”
In SGA, Riley said she believes she makes true change at Bellarmine. A few examples of these changes are gender-inclusive signage on restrooms and advocacy for many different groups due to her involvement in other organizations.
“I am also able to plan and participate in bi-monthly service events for the student body,” Riley said.
Trey Grevious, SGA president, said Riley is one of the best people to have on your side. Grievous said she is continually advocating for others and from working with her it is clear that she has a true passion for servant leadership and politics.
“I cannot think of a time I wasn’t impressed with the work she has done and will continue to do for SGA.” Grievous said. “Kelze’ is a pleasure to work with.”
Dr. Helen Grace Ryan, vice president of student affairs, said she has had the opportunity to serve beside Riley in her SGA and Residence Life positions. Ryan said Riley is very serious about all the positions she holds.
“Her passion for servant leadership is evident in most all she does.” Ryan said. “[I]n her service to the community she leads the campus in community engagement and service events throughout the city. The amount of service completed by registered student organizations rose exponentially this year, largely due to her leadership.”
Ryan said she has also seen Riley grow over the past few years she has known her. Her ability to see things from others’ perspectives is a sign of maturity, Ryan said.
“Kelze’ listens. There have been several times over the past year where Kelze’ has quoted other staff, faculty, and student leaders across campus. She is constantly learning from others and that is a sign of a great leader,” Ryan said.
Ryan said Riley has truly grown in her leadership over the past few years and there are many people at BU who can attest to that. Recently, Riley received the Rising Leader award at the annual BU Women in Leadership banquet.
“Winning the Women in Leadership Rising Leader award really made me feel like I was impacting people on this campus.” Riley said. “It’s easy to feel like the work we do goes unnoticed, so I appreciate being acknowledged in this way.”
Riley’s passion for politics began more than decade ago and every day she continues to work toward her end goals: being governor or a senator from Ohio.
But before she will embark on a journey toward her end goal, she still wants to spend her senior year at BU making a difference.
“There are so many things I want to accomplish before I graduate, but overall, I just want to continue making Bellarmine a better place, especially in areas of diversity and inclusion,” Riley said.