Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Studies ISSN: 2663-7197 DOI: 10.32996/jhsss Journal Homepage: www.al-kindipublisher.com/index.php/jhsss JHSSS AL-KINDI CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT Copyright: © 2023 the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Published by Al-Kindi Centre for Research and Development, London, United Kingdom. Page | 39 | RESEARCH ARTICLE Online Leadership: Experiences of Student Body Organization Officers Ritchel V. Hermoso 1 , Mary Joy C. Hernando 2 ✉ Rommel T. Gimarangan 3 , Suzette V. Tobes 4 , Jester H. Alob 5 and Charlene Geonzon 6 1 College of Arts and Sciences, University of Cebu-Main, Cebu City, Philippines 2 MA Psych, OIC-College of Arts and Sciences, University of Cebu-Main, Cebu City, Philippines 3 Ph.D., J.D., LPT, Chairman, College of Arts in Sciences, University of Cebu-Main, Cebu City, Philippines 456 College of Arts and Sciences, University of Cebu-Main, Cebu City, Philippines Corresponding Author: Mary Joy C. Hernando, E-mail: maryjoyhernando8@gmail.com | ABSTRACT This study explores the online leadership experiences of fourth-year male and female student body organization officers at the University of Cebu-Main Campus during the COVID-19 pandemic. Informants were purposefully selected using a qualitative phenomenological research design. Semi-structured open-ended interviews were conducted for data collection, employing Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis (2006). Key informants' responses identified seven emergent themes under three overarching themes that addressed subproblems. The participants' experiences as student leaders in the online setup revealed two emergent themes: distress and opportunity. Difficulties faced included poor communication, external issues, time management, and emotional distress, classified into four emergent themes. Coping mechanisms centered around purpose as a single emergent theme. The findings and recommendations from the study aim to address challenges encountered by student officers in the online setting. | KEYWORDS Student Leaders, Online Leadership, Qualitative Study, Phenomenological, Thematic Analysis | ARTICLE INFORMATION ACCEPTED: 25 November 2023 PUBLISHED: 04 December 2023 DOI: 10.32996/jhsss.2023.5.12.5 1. Introduction Student organizations play a pivotal role in fostering the overall development of students on a global scale. These entities offer avenues for students to enrich their leadership abilities, participate in community service initiatives, and establish connections with peers with similar interests and goals. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic arises, it poses many unexpected challenges worldwide, forcing people to design and implement flexible ways to deal with the new circumstances that have caused unprecedented changes in the world, particularly in the education sector. Schools and universities have closed their doors, and students had to adjust to a new normal of online learning. All the uncertainties brought about by the pandemic leadership of student organizations have been tested in different ways. According to Gacutan (2006), the role of student leaders and student organizations will remain critical amid the changing situations that restrict or limit people's educational chances. As a result, to mitigate the problem, schools have created a virtual space for student leaders to pursue their leadership, where they can continue to organize, plan, implement, and facilitate their programs and relevant activities, thus allowing them to develop critical consciousness and collective action that can transform education and society for the better.