h3> What is your name?
Lila James
What is your position?
Vice President of Internal Affairs
What is your PUDM email?
vpinternal@pudm.org
Where is your hometown?
Westfield, IN
What is your Major?
Interior Design
Why did you want to be an executive?
Dance Marathons hold a very special place in my heart. From being involved throughout high school, I knew I couldn’t stop pursuing my passion of helping others once I got to college, so I got involved with PUDM. With the encouragement I received to pursue a VP position last year, I knew it was an amazing opportunity to boost the involvement and impact I have in an organization that is so important to me! After seeing the impact I could make after a year on exec, I knew I had to remain in a position where my personal strengths could aid in creating a brighter future for this organization and our kiddos!
What is your previous PUDM involvement?
Fundraising Committee Member, Fundraising Chair, Vice President of Finance
What is your favorite PUDM memory?
There are so many good experiences that have happened because of PUDM that it’s hard to pinpoint just one. However, one of my most proud moments from this past year was Miracle Madness 2025. This was my very first push day as VPF and I was so nervous going into it. I wanted it to be perfect and go exactly as planned. The week started off great, but during the Hype Room that Wednesday, nothing could have gone better. I had an amazing exec team behind me that helped keep the moment and energy up all day long. This day led to such a great push in culture and fundraising, broken records, and such high morale to finish out the spring. MM 2025 gave me the confidence to continue growing in my role!
What is a fun fact about you?
I’m an aunt!
Whats your biggest dream? (Career goal, travel, bucket list, impact on the world, etc.)
I hope someday to be remembered for the positive and kind impact I had on others. I will know I have succeeded at the end of my life if I have made a positive impact on even one person’s life. Overall, I want to show love and joy. I look to Mother Teresa most as an example of someone who did this so well. One thing she said that is a perfect reminder of this was “Let us always meet each other with a smile, for a smile is the beginning of love.”
What are your main duties as an exec?
As VPI, I get to oversee planning of the marathon! I also lead the Logistics, Special Events, Morale, Legacy, and Riley Relations execs and help bring their ideas to life!