WHM Spotlight: Bowie Diaz ’28

To continue our celebration of Women’s History Month and the remarkable women who help shape the Roger Williams University community, we’re introducing you to Bowie Diaz, a sophomore Psychology major with minors in Educational Studies and Communications & Media Studies from Ansonia, Conn., and Co-General Manager of WQRI 88.3 FM.

Diaz plays a central role in leading RWU’s student-run radio station, helping coordinate programming, oversee meetings, and support a growing community of student broadcasters. Beyond WQRI, Diaz is also active across campus as a student admissions ambassador in the Office of Admissions, attends meetings with HALSA (Hispanic and Latinx Student Association), and serves as an Orientation Advisor each summer – returning this year for her second season welcoming new students to campus.

Through these roles, Diaz has embraced opportunities to grow as a leader while helping other students find their voices and place within the RWU community.

Fun Facts About Bowie

• Her passion for radio started in high school at WIQH 88.3 FM, where she co-hosted a talk and music show with a friend for all four years before joining WQRI.
• She is a big fan of Olympic figure skater Alysa Liu.
• Her favorite fruit and flavor is apple.

In Her Own Words

Tell us about your Co-General Manager role and what leadership looks like in your work.

As one of the co-general managers for WQRI, my co-GM and I run both executive board and general staff meetings while making sure everything at the station is running smoothly. We help coordinate events, trips, and programming while also making sure everyone on staff is supported and completing their responsibilities.

It has been a great experience so far and has allowed me to meet many new people both inside and outside the organization. A big part of leadership at WQRI is also about building community and making sure everyone feels welcome and excited to participate.

What does it mean to you to be a woman leader at RWU?

To me, being a woman leader at RWU means uplifting other women in leadership roles. Seeing women in these positions reminds people that leadership opportunities exist for everyone and that women are just as capable of leading communities as anyone else.

I’ve also seen this firsthand in many of the organizations I’m part of. HALSA, for example, has a majority female executive board that does incredible work. Groups like Women in Business and the Women of Color Club also represent strong communities of women pursuing their passions both academically and socially.

What does “Give to Gain” mean to you, and what do you give that helps others gain opportunity?

To me, “Give to Gain” means investing your time and energy into something or someone that matters to you and receiving something meaningful in return.

One thing I try to give is advice and knowledge to the people around me. Whether it’s about radio or general life advice, I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned with people who are interested in following a similar path. Hopefully, they can take something from my experiences and use it to create opportunities for themselves.

Were there specific people who helped shape your path, and how did their influence guide you?

One person who has had a huge impact on my journey at RWU is Carol Sacchetti, Associate Dean of Students and Director of Student Programs, Leadership, & Orientation. When I first joined WQRI, I was very shy and almost didn’t run for an executive board position.

After I became secretary, Carol continued to encourage me and push me to pursue new opportunities. She encouraged me to become an Orientation Advisor and eventually to run for General Manager at WQRI. Even now, she continues to support and motivate me to reach new goals. I’m very grateful that she saw potential in me, especially during my first year when I was still finding my confidence.

What has been one meaningful success in your role so far?

Because I’ve only recently stepped into the General Manager role, one meaningful success for me was simply running for the position in the first place.

I’m not naturally very outgoing, so putting myself forward for a leadership role was outside of my comfort zone. But I’m really glad I took that step. I had looked up to one of our previous GMs, Madison Benson, who was also a strong woman leader at RWU, and I hoped to follow a similar path. Becoming Co-General Manager feels like the first step in that journey.

What advice would you offer to students stepping into leadership?

Take risks and step outside of your comfort zone. Leadership often means doing things you wouldn’t normally do for yourself and taking initiative to help others.

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – they’re inevitable and usually much less serious than they seem at the moment. If someone encourages you to step into a leadership role, there’s usually a reason for it. Trust that people see potential in you, even if you’re still learning to see it in yourself.