Nick Kappeyne van de Coppello
SSDP Board Application
The Basics
School: Reed College
Email: kappeyne@alumni.reed.edu
Major(s) / Minor(s) / Areas of study: Psychology
Current year in school: Graduated May 2011
Expected graduation year: 2011
What are your tentative plans after college?:
Internship with Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)
Leadership Experience
Describe your advocacy skills and experience. Include work outside of SSDP.
Advocating drug policy reform is a passion – ask anyone who knows me! I talk about drugs and drug policy with professors, students, the Dean of Students, the Health Center Director, Campus Safety Director, as well as with my family and friends. I have tabled, canvassed, phone banked, talked in front of audiences, and lobbied about issues from harm reduction to legalization. I’ve been a student advocate more broadly as student senator, working with various administrators and committees to keep student concerns and input in mind.
How do you plan on balancing a busy schedule as a student, an SSDP activist, and a board member?
Having graduated recently I have a great deal more time to devote to drug policy reform. I will soon be starting an internship with Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). This will take up more of my time, but will further immerse me in the issues and new developments concerning drug policy reform on a daily basis. Rather than detract from my ability to perform my board member responsibilities, this position will allow me to dream up new ways to connect different aspects and organizations of the drug policy reform movement.
SSDP Chapter Experience
What formal positions have you held in your SSDP chapter? When?
Founder (Jan 2009), President (effectively because we don’t have formal positions in our chapter; Jan 2009 – Aug 2009), Co-President (Sep 2009 – May 2011)
Describe your leadership style, particularly within your chapter.
I am a good listener and talented at consensus building. I like to hear everyone’s input before making up my own mind and to work with others to develop inclusive solutions. This has resulted in an egalitarian chapter where everyone has an equal say in what we do. I lead by example and have taken on a great deal of the organizational responsibilities for events and fundraising. Additionally, I enjoy teaching and empowering those around me by giving them the knowledge and skills I’ve learned with the hope that they will surpass me. When chapter members make comments or ask questions I give thoughtful responses and research the information if I don’t already know the answer. I am a passionate leader and encourage chapter members to take as much interest in drug policy and equality as I do.
Describe one project that you led or are leading. What was/is your role? What has this project accomplished?
In the wake of an overdose death at my school I quickly organized an open forum on drugs with a panel of faculty and administrators. They fielded questions from an audience of 150+ upset students wanting to know how we could prevent this from reoccurring. This forum then transitioned into smaller discussion groups which I and my fellow SSDP leaders facilitated with a list of pre-arranged questions I wrote. The initial accomplishment of this event was to greatly increase campus discussion of drug issues and how students and campus safety should act with regard to our school’s honor principle. This led to a year long dialogue and editing process between the Dean of Students, our chapter, and myself on a Good Samaritan Policy for all drugs that was put into place this school year.
What fundraising or revenue building experience have you had in the past?
I have successfully applied for and been granted money from countless Student Finance Committee Meetings to bring speakers and workshops to campus and to subsidize SSDP travel expenses to conferences on both coasts. To gain broader support for our events I have approached various department chairs and administrators and raised matching or surpassing funds from our Dean of Faculty, Dean of Students, and College President.
The Board
Why do you want to serve on the SSDP board?
I want to be more involved in and give more to an organization I’m deeply passionate about. I expect that working on the board will require me to learn new things and make me even more committed to SSDP and the movement. I want to see SSDP thrive and believe that I have the experience, skills, and passion to help chart a successful future for our organization.
What do you believe are the board's most important functions?
With a two-thirds student composition, one of the board’s key functions is to represent student interests and perspectives. This is especially important with regards to overseeing the budget, creating a strategic plan, and providing oversight of the executive director through the hiring and evaluation processes. Fundraising is another vital function for board members.
What are your goals for your board tenure (be as specific as possible)?
I want to represent the west coast and reestablish a west coast office to give local support for the rapidly growing chapter network. I wish to continue to build my fundraising acumen and will work to exceed the fundraising requirements for directors each year of my tenure.
If elected to the board, would you retain a leading role and/or formal position with your chapter?
No. I will continue to be a resource from out of state. I will not directly lead my chapter.
