Amber Drummond ’27 moved quickly through The Perch, making sure everything and everyone was set up as students filtered into Hawk Hill Productions’ “Pampers and Paws” event last December. 

Drummond, an elementary education major, serves as president of HHP. The student-run organization plans campus programming and events aimed at engaging students in the St. Joe’s community, from large-scale traditions like Hawkapalooza, an annual end of the year event filled with rides and games, to smaller stress-relief initiatives like “Pampers and Paws.”

While students gathered to pet puppies and chat with friends, Drummond stayed mostly behind the scenes, checking food deliveries, taking out trash and making sure programmers had what they needed.

“I don’t feel like the president at times,” Drummond said. “I’m just here to help anyone and everyone possible.”

Much of Drummond’s work happens outside public view. Drummond said planning major events often requires hours of meetings and coordination with HHP, Senate and the Office of Public Safety & Security. This means constant flexibility when plans change.

“It’s like planning a wedding, but every week,” Drummond said. 

Drummond first became involved with HHP as a first year after feeling disconnected early in college. Encouraged by a friend already in the organization, she joined as a marketing chair after the position unexpectedly opened up, designing posters and flyers. Eventually, she ran for president.

“Everything kind of fell into place, and they decided I was the best fit for the role,” Drummond said.

Drummond said the organization, which uses student activity fees to fund their events, exists to give students an alternative way to connect on campus.

“I think it’s important just because [HHP] tries to build a sense of community around St. Joe’s because sometimes it can be difficult, especially for underclassmen, to just find their people,” Drummond said.

RJ Fitzgerald ’27, former director of off-campus trips for HHP, described Drummond as “outgoing, extroverted and dependable,” adding that Drummond gives her attention to everyone and makes sure no one feels overlooked.

“She’s just very energetic, and she’ll give attention to everyone,” Fitzgerald said. “There’s no one person that she’s particularly ‘on.’ When she’s working, she’s with everybody.”  

Tamara Drummond, Drummond’s mother, said the balance between being outgoing and staying out of the spotlight has been part of Amber Drummond’s personality for years.

“There were times when she did not want to be the center of attention,” Tamara Drummond said. “Although, on the other side of the coin, she’s very outgoing, and she’s not shy.”

Fitzgerald recalled last year’s drag show as a moment that captured Drummond’s leadership. Tensions surrounding safety and logistics required close coordination between organizations and administrators, and Drummond stepped up to the challenge.

“She was able to make all those connections, get the whole event running, make sure we had the training we needed … And she ran it so smoothly, no one would have known that there was an issue,” Fitzgerald said.

Despite holding the title of president, Drummond said she tries to remain hands-off when programmers are designing their own events.

“I want it to be their event,” she said. “I want it to be the way that they envision it.”

The hardest part of the role, Drummond said, is accepting that not everyone will be satisfied.

“I just want everybody to be happy and welcomed, and not everybody’s going to like everything at the end of the day,” Drummond said. “I’m still trying to come to terms with that.”

As students laughed and crowded around the puppies, Drummond stepped back, scanning the room looking to see if everything was running smoothly. For her, leadership looks less like standing at the center of attention and more like making sure everyone else feels like they belong

“We just try to impact a lot of people in the best way possible,” Drummond said.