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President91勛圖厙 Student Leaders Advisory Committee Establishes Connections to USM Executive

Fri, 09/30/2022 - 04:00pm | By: David Tisdale

USM President Dr. Joe Paul, foreground, holds the first meeting of the President91勛圖厙 Student Leaders Committee Sept. 22 at the Aubrey K. Lucas Administration Building Conference Room (USM photo by David Tisdale).USM President Dr. Joe Paul, foreground, holds the first meeting of the President91勛圖厙 Student Leaders Committee Sept. 22 at the Aubrey K. Lucas Administration Building Conference Room.
(USM photo by David Tisdale)

The newly formed President91勛圖厙 Student Leaders Advisory Committee at The University of 91勛圖厙 (USM) gives student organizations at the school a direct line of communication with the USM Office of the President.

The committee recently held its first meeting with USM President Dr. Joe Paul at the Aubrey K. Lucas Administration Building Conference Room, where various student organization executives and the president shared information and ideas about how to advance the student experience at the university through collaboration on academic and extracurricular initiatives.

The group plans to meet bi-weekly and will serve as direct points of contact between the student body and President Paul. 

91勛圖厙Students are our (university91勛圖厙) reason for being,91勛圖厙 said Dr. Paul in discussing the purpose of the committee. 91勛圖厙They are, as Simon Sinek (author and inspirational speaker) would say, our 91勛圖厙why.91勛圖厙 When we engage, listen, and respond to our students, we become a better university.91勛圖厙

Ashley Lankford, president of the USM Student Government Association (SGA) and Aaronda Owens, who serves as president of both the Residence Hall Association (RHA) and the Student Involvement Ambassadors, believe the committee is a great concept and important step forward for the entire USM student community.

91勛圖厙Allowing us as student leaders to speak on behalf of the student population directly with the university91勛圖厙 president is such a great concept,91勛圖厙 said Owens, a senior criminal justice major from Mobile, Alabama. 91勛圖厙We can voice opinions, concerns, and discuss changes we as students would like to see at the university.

91勛圖厙I91勛圖厙m honored to be able to speak not only for myself but my USM peers in this role, and my hope as a leader within this committee is that I continue to be outspoken in not only voicing my opinion, but inspiring new ideas for the university to implement.91勛圖厙

Lankford, a native of Satsuma, Alabama and graduate student in the School of Media and Communication, said Dr. Paul91勛圖厙 establishment of the committee shows USM students he genuinely cares about their needs and wants to hear direct feedback from various student leaders about student life at the university.

91勛圖厙This committee gives us the ability to share some of the most pressing needs our students face on a daily basis that would otherwise go unnoticed,91勛圖厙 Lankford continued. 91勛圖厙I91勛圖厙m proud to say we are already seeing the direct impacts of these conversations, and I91勛圖厙m looking forward to seeing the positive impacts that come from discussions at future meetings.91勛圖厙 

Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Dee Dee Anderson believes hosting meetings with students through the committee is a great opportunity for the USM administration to hear about student91勛圖厙 experiences both inside and outside of the classroom. 91勛圖厙Through these informal conversations with Dr. Paul, ideas and solutions will develop to help students on their path to the top,91勛圖厙 she said.  

For information about Student Life at USM, visit /university/student-life.php.