If You Give a Girl the Right Shoes

By Jamie Snover

President-elect Connie Book isn’t the only woman taking on a new leadership role at Elon University. Melanie Bullock is the current Director of the Center for Leadership and she is like nothing the Center for Leadership (CFL) has seen before.

Her leadership style, and style itself, brings a change to the CFL. Sophomore Leadership Fellow Valerie Medlin believes this change is exactly what the CFL needs.

“Honestly, without her taking the role as director, I think the CFL would have tanked over the next five years,” Medlin said. “It is way overdue for Elon to have faculty that accurately represent the nation, and world we live in. With Melanie identifying as not only a woman but also a woman of color, I see a glimmer of hope for the future faculty of Elon.”

This position at Elon has been the change that Bullock herself needed, too.

“Coming to Elon has provided me the opportunity to expand my territory of impact to create opportunities for students to develop their leadership capacity and efficacy,” Bullock said.

Bullock joins the Elon community from Wake Forest University, where she was the Associate Director for Leadership and Student Engagement. Prior to Wake Forest, Bullock worked at the University of South Florida at St. Petersburg, North Carolina Central University and the University of Central Florida.

Senior Olivia Hobbs, the Leadership Fellows Director, was thrilled when she found out Bullock was going to become the director.

“It was a privilege being involved in the director search, and knowing that a woman was going to be the new director of the CFL paved the way for me to pursue being a female leader within my chosen field,” Hobbs said.

For Hobbs, it’s Bullock’s unique leadership style that set her apart from other candidates.

“Melanie is definitely a go-getter, working with others to make a change. But she is very observant and introspective before making decisions. She also is very cognizant about making sure all parties feel included,” Hobbs said. “Melanie inspires me to go outside of my comfort zone. Being an introvert, sometimes social interaction can be challenging but Melanie encourages me to get to know people on a personal and professional level. She also pushes me to think creatively and explore all possibilities.”

But style isn’t only applied to leadership. An outstanding quality about Bullock is her fashion style.

“Every morning I feel a sense of power that comes from what I put on in the morning,” Bullock said. “My outfit can sometimes shape the energy and the mood of my day. I get excited about the creativity of putting pieces together. That creative energy is ignited in the morning and carries throughout the rest of the day in my work.”

Her own sense of  style is just one of the things that caught students’ attention.

“I saw her at the first fellows forum, and I was like, now that is a queen right there,” Medlin said. “Her entire ora commands a room, but she doesn't make you feel ‘less than’. She welcomes you into a conversation in an empowering way. It's contagious.”

In the first fellows forum, a monthly meeting between all Leadership Fellows, Bullock shared her obsession with shoes–the ultimate accessory that highlights her self-proclaimed bold, modern and chic style.

“Whenever I buy a new pair of shoes, I feel like I’m starting a new story,” Bullock said. “As they begin to wear, dirt or marks may be added to them. To me, these marks indicate layers to the story and add character to the shoe. If someone were to look at my shoes they may only see the mark, but when I look at them I see a part of the story.”

This obsession is something Bullock has always shared with her father and it’s something they bond over today.

“Every once in awhile, I’ll receive a package in the mail, a pair of shoes in a box with a note from Dad and a reminder that ‘if you give a girl the right shoes, she can conquer the world,’” Bullock said.

Conquering the world would be impossible without the leadership experience and knowledge Bullock possesses and hopes to share with Elon students. Her advice to young leaders is simple.

“Go for it,” Bullock said. “There are organizations and communities that need you and your leadership. Give yourself permission to pursue big things. Step into all you were meant to be. Stop playing small. You were designed for greatness.”

Melanie Bullock