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How Does EWB-OSU Function?
A look inside the chapter's organizational structure, leadership philosophy, and how student engineers turn strategy into action.
By Nicole DiRando, Chapter President
Have you ever wondered how a student organization actually runs? How does it stay productive while every member is simultaneously balancing coursework, part-time jobs, and everything else that comes with college? At EWB-OSU, the answer comes down to structure, communication, and a willingness to hold each other accountable.
How We're Organized
The chapter operates on a clear hierarchy: the President and Vice President set overall goals and direction, committee executives guide their respective teams, and general members carry out the essential work that makes projects happen. Every role has defined responsibilities — and every member knows where they fit.
Strategic Planning: The Advances
Twice a year, leadership steps back from day-to-day operations to evaluate the chapter as a whole.
The Fall Advance uses a SWOT analysis — Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats — to honestly assess how the chapter is performing and where we need to grow.
The Spring Advance picks up remaining action items and sets new objectives for the year ahead.
These sessions aren't just meetings. They're where the chapter decides what it actually stands for and what it's going to do about it.
Three Goals: Accountability, Communication, Execution
Having moved through roles including Professional Liaison, International Projects Lead, Vice President, and President, I've seen the chapter from nearly every angle. The through-line has always been the same: the organizations that succeed don't just talk about their values — they act on them.
That means setting clear expectations, following through on commitments, and being honest when something isn't working. It means walking the walk.
We use the Student Organization Success Framework Self-Assessment as a guide — not because a framework solves problems, but because it helps us ask the right questions about member experience, project quality, and long-term impact.
Why It Matters
The communities we work with — like Njau in The Gambia — are counting on us to show up prepared and deliver. That requires more than good intentions. It requires an organization that functions.