Women presidents are rare at the Latter-day Saint Student Association at the University of Utah.
In fact, some people think Charlotte Hansen is the first, but she pays no mind to it as she bustles about her business and carries out the responsibilities of her position.
\"The theme for this year is U&I,\" Hansen says as she displays a T-shirt sporting a logo that combines the two organizations (Utah and institute).
\"It shows the idea of unity between campus and institute. We want to continue to work with campus in a way that they want to come to our activities — maybe even nonmembers will want to come and take part …
\"Another thing that we are doing is making sure that the Spirit is here so that people will want to come closer to Jesus Christ … through the classes and through the activities to make them feel welcome here so that they can make that happen in their lives,\" Hansen says.
The solid foundation on which Hansen stands was constructed when she served a mission at the Kirtland Historic Site in Ohio. She was involved in restructuring tours and worked directly with the zone leader and the site director as she developed her leadership qualities. But most importantly, \"I learned the importance of the Atonement and its healing power. It also helped me to know how to recognize the Spirit better.\"
Once back in school, Hansen explored several subjects and settled on an English major, graduating in May. She is pursuing graduate studies in English, history and possibly religious studies.
She works at the U. in the honors program and enjoys counseling students and knows she has leadership abilities as well.
\"I don't like the idea of sitting back and being a leader and letting everyone else do everything. I don't want to be just like sitting somewhere on this high stool and letting them do it for me. I want to be there with them in the friendship kind of thing.\"
The granddaughter of Eugene England, a prominent professor and scholar of Mormonism, Hansen says his death while she was in junior high school was a \"very hard thing for me.\" She notes that his example has had a profound effect on her.
But the difference between then and now is that she realizes she has both teaching and leadership abilities. She says, \"I was very shy in high school.\"
She says she is a different person today — she was on her high school swim team and loves going to pool parties.
Her adviser in the LDSSA is David Robinson, who tells this story about her: \"She is very competitive. We were playing water basketball, and she ripped the ball right out of my hands, taking my finger with it.\"
Hansen says institute instructors are also very competitive. \"Don't let them fool you,\" she says. \"They say they aren't really competitive. Well, they are.\"
Robinson takes every opportunity to remind her, \"My finger still has not healed.\"
Aside from all the fun, Robinson says, \"She is always prepared before meetings. She never leaves anything undone, and her whole council has great respect for her.\"
Hansen reiterates her goal about getting students to attend their activities.
\"The institute gives people a chance to find that group of friends. Like me, for instance. None of my friends from high school were coming here and it was through the institute that I was able to find that group of really good friends. And that's a big concern for a lot of parents and for students, that as they start college they want to be able to have places where they can have wholesome activities and be able to find that group of people around them that can help them be better. And I see the institute doing that for a lot of people. \"
e-mail: mormontimes@desnews.com