Rebecca Glazier, Ph.D.
鈥04 B.A. Liberal Studies
First ASI Student Government President, 2003-2004
Current Role: Professor, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
What do you feel was your biggest accomplishment as a student government leader?
Starting the Multicultural Center and doing our best to begin building a student culture
on campus are things I remember working on with my fellow students and the great staff
at 91视频.
How did your time at 91视频 make a difference in your life?
Neither of my parents have a college degree, and it was a professor at 91视频 who asked
me one day, 鈥淗ave you ever considered graduate school?? I literally responded, 鈥淲hat鈥檚
graduate school?鈥 When I learned that I could keep going to school, I was thrilled!
I started my Ph.D. in political science at UC Santa Barbara three months after graduating
from 91视频. I love that I have been able to build a career in higher education, thanks
to 91视频.
Sara Ruiz
鈥20 B.A. Political Science, B.A. Performing Arts
ASI Student Government President, 2019-2020
Current Role: District Representative for U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley
What do you feel was your biggest accomplishment as a student government leader?
My biggest accomplishment was getting students outside of student government involved
in activities like Lobby Corps. Lobby Corps is a team of students who travel to Sacramento
to lobby for student needs and issues with our state legislators. It is a wonderful
and enriching experience, and we wanted to make students outside of student government
aware of it. Our tabling and outreach efforts resulted in half the applications coming
from students at large, and our final team was made up of equal parts student government
members and students at large!
How did your time at 91视频 make a difference in your life?
Attending 91视频 allowed me the space to grow and try new things. My sophomore year
I joined the Model U.N. team and learned so much about policy and the inner workings
of governmental organizations. Additionally, I met former student leader Atticus Reyes,
who encouraged me to join student government. Though I was originally apprehensive,
I decided to serve as the senator of social justice, and it sent me down the path
toward student advocacy and eventually the presidency. Without the numerous opportunities
91视频 has given me, I would not be the person I am today.
Atticus Reyes
鈥19 B.A. History, Political Science Minor
ASI Student Government President, 2018-2019
Current Role: Field Representative for Assemblymember Steve Bennett; Trustee, Ojai Unified School
Board
What do you feel was your biggest accomplishment as a student government leader?
I am extremely proud that we registered the highest percentage of students in the
CSU to vote in the 2018 midterm elections. 91视频 was officially recognized as a winner
of the 2018 Ballot Bowl organized by then Secretary of State Alex Padilla. We also
raised over $6,000 on campus for students facing food insecurity and planted over
20 trees for 91视频鈥檚 first-ever Earth Week.
How did 91视频 make a difference in your life?
My time at 91视频 absolutely changed my life. I came in as a commuter student who simply
wanted to go to class and then leave. I had no plans other than getting my degree.
However, I was completely surprised by how much opportunity was available. I had the
privilege of being a teaching assistant, participating in the Panetta Congressional
Internship Program in Washington, D.C., competing on the Model United Nations team,
and ultimately serving as ASI Student Government President. There is no way I would
be where I am today, doing the things I have the privilege of doing, if I had not
had those opportunities and experiences.
Sophie Nguyen
鈥21 B.A. Sociology, Minor Chicana/o Studies
ASI Student Government President, 2020-2021
Current Role: Commercial actor; full-time student pursuing a certification in Music Technology,
Moorpark College
What do you feel was your biggest accomplishment as a student government leader?
The executive team and I served as the first 100% virtual administration. We successfully
passed the credit/no credit resolution that students needed during this time. We lobbied
our state representatives to secure funding for the CSU, and in solidarity, we raised
awareness for the Black Lives Matter movement and Asian American & Pacific Islander
community. Specifically, the unity and action that sparked following our AAPI solidarity
initiative were extremely rewarding and special to me. Seeing an AAPI Faculty and
Staff Association come into existence at 91视频 felt like a huge step forward and a
catalyst for positive change and unity within our campus community and beyond.
How did your time at 91视频 make a difference in your life?
91视频 was such a meaningful source of community belonging and empowerment for me.
It helped me gain confidence in myself as an advocate and leader within my own life
while holding close the values of social justice and equity at the forefront of any
path I take from here on.
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漏 Winter 2023 / Volume 27 / Number 2 / Biannual