An Interview with Sydney thayer
Reflecting on her high school experience, Thayer notes that she wasn’t exposed to topics of environmental science or sustainability. Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, Thayer envisioned a career in government or public policy, wanting to work on campaigns and Capitol Hill. But when she got to the College of William and Mary, that vision drastically changed. Thayer's involvement in environmental science and sustainability initiatives at the College sparked a passionate dedication as a champion for change.
COURTESY IMAGE // SYDNEY THAYER
Sydney Thayer ’24 is well-known on this campus. You might recognize her standing on the Sadler Terrace in her tree costume, dashing across campus from meeting to meeting, or as the former president of Student Assembly. But you may not be aware that Thayer's path took an unexpected turn when she arrived at the College. The discoveries she made on her journey ignited the flame that guided her forward, leading her to become president of SA.
When she became involved in sustainability, her journey led her to roles in the College’s student government. “I never intended to get involved in Student Assembly,” Thayer reflected candidly. Having other on campus involvements, becoming president was not in her master plan. She looked at past presidents and thought “That's crazy! I'm not doing that!” Thayer's laughter rang with sincerity as she reminisced on her initial hesitation.
Thayer’s positions evolved over the years, from Undersecretary of Sustainability, to Secretary of Sustainability, to a Senior Advisor, gaining the experience to step into the presidential role and try to “change it up.” She acknowledges that “historically, [SA Presidents] dropped everything else.” However, Thayer recognized her desire to balance multiple aspects of her life and interests, saying “I knew there was more to me than student government.”
Before her tenure with SA, Thayer was already deeply committed to environmental consciousness and community engagement. Notably, she often donned a tree costume around campus, aiming to find a way to get people excited and engaged when tabling for environmental organizations. “It’s silly to me now that I am the Student Assembly girl because for a long time, I was the girl in a tree costume, and I don't know if people have connected that I am the same person,” Thayer said.
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During Thayer’s sophomore year, she co-founded the Veggie Society, a club focused on environmental consciousness, physical wellness, and mental health. She now serves as “Carrot Top,” a clever term for the president. Additionally, she landed an internship with the Dining Sustainability program and is now a lead intern. Moreover, she continues to oversee the expansion of campus compost programs, utilizing the electric golf cart that she wrote a Green Fee proposal for during her sophomore year.
To add to her collection of leadership roles, she was an Orientation Aide, one of the most coveted, competitive positions at The College. Thayer encountered both triumphs and challenges while holding leadership roles, exemplified by her experiences as an OA. During her first year, she felt supported by leadership; however, she could not say the same for the following year. Thayer recounted feeling belittled by those in leadership positions during her second year, a stark departure from her vision of inclusive leadership.
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Despite feeling defeated, Thayer persisted. She heavily debated applying to be Orientation Area Director for the fall 2023 semester. After securing the role, aware of her feelings towards the orientation program, she made the role her own by infusing sustainability modules into OA training. She also advocated within the Center for Student Diversity president's council to discuss the barriers to entry and how to improve the OA experience. Reflecting on her time as OAD for the Jamestown rodeo, she exclaimed, “I love my staff so much,” recalling that “it was not without its flaws, but overall, it was such a rewarding experience.”
Continuing to reflect on her journey, Thayer recounted a pivotal conversation with Owen Williams ’23, attorney general for SA, who has known all of the “iterations of Sydney at W&M.” At their get-together, he got her fired up about SA, discussing the ways it could be changed and improved. As the conversation built, it rose to a crescendo when Williams said, “and that’s why you should run for president.” Thayer laughs again, saying that while she initially denied wanting the job, she now recognizes the irony of her response.
Acknowledging the complexity of SA and her goals for increased transparency, Thayer mentions the challenges of managing her responsibilities and the importance of setting boundaries, recognizing how easily she can become flooded by the deluge of emails and requests for her attention. “I don't think that I did a perfect job by any means,” Thayer said, expressing her constant strive for improvement.
Nevertheless, Thayer takes pride in having a “supportive role” and tries to make herself accessible in and out of SA, emphasizing the importance of providing a strong support system for her peers. She believes that fostering a sense of empowerment among members enables them to confidently pursue their interests.
Thayer emphasizes the importance of what she learned from her predecessor, John Cho ’23. He gave her the initial interview for her first role in SA, but at the time, she knew him as one of her co-orientation aides. “I think I learned more from him as my friend,” Thayer said. She emphasizes how they are different and that she watched Cho “get idolized in a little bit of a strange way. ” Thayer continues to say that it was “helpful to see how different people fit into roles.”
Thayer’s understanding of leading student assembly was shaped by the lessons learned from Cho and her own experiences in different leadership roles. Transitioning from her personal experiences, she critiques the tendency for leadership titles to overshadow the genuine qualities that make individuals effective leaders. If someone is a good leader they are “good at connecting with and helping supporting people,” Thayer said.
Building upon her reflections on leadership, Thayer expressed her vision of the succeeding presidential team of SA. She hopes her successors will continue sourcing their cabinet from those who are passionate about specific issues. Additionally Thayer stressed, “Student assembly has the resources,” and she hopes that her successors try to connect with the student body, especially regarding these resources.
After graduation, Thayer described her desire to work for the city government and participate in urban planning for communities, but with a focus on sustainability and public health. Thayer reveals that she wants to get her master’s in urban planning, but plans to work for a few years before going back to school. Her aspirations reflect a deep-seated commitment to facilitating change at the campus and local levels.
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