Meet OU’s SGA Presidents and Vice Presidents

Student leaders on OU’s three campuses have transitioned into their new roles as Student Government Association president and vice president for their respective campuses. On the Norman campus, SGA officers serve a year-long term that follows the calendar year, while at HSC and OU-Tulsa, SGA officers serve a one-year term that follows the academic calendar. Learn what motivated each of them to run for office and what they hope to achieve during their terms.

Q: What do you hope to achieve during your term as SGA president?
A: During my term as SGA president, I hope to create long-term, feasible change across campus and create initiatives that can be continued beyond our administration. Furthermore, I hope to serve as a representative of the student body in the most candid way possible by truly advocating for students. Our platform was centered around amplifying student voices and igniting comprehensive change. At the very least, I hope that we stay true to that.

Q: What motivated you to run for SGA president?
A: My motivations for running for SGA president include the leaders who came before me, a desire to make tangible change, and my love for the Student Government Association. I have been involved with SGA since I started my first year at OU, and I was inspired by the previous SGA leaders and the incredible work that they have done to improve our university. I knew that I wanted to lead our student body toward the same improvements, so I decided to run for SGA president alongside my best friend and vice president, Alex Gray. We are the first woman duo to win the SGA election in about 10 years.  

Q: What do you love most about the University of Oklahoma?
A: What I love most about the University of Oklahoma is the people I have had the privilege to meet. I have met so many incredible students, faculty and staff throughout my time at the university. Each of them has elevated my college experience to heights that I wouldn’t have ever imagined. For instance, when I decided to run for SGA president, I was pleasantly surprised that so many of my friends strongly stood behind me and my ambitious decision. Having people who believe, encourage and support me is forever what I will love the most about OU.

Q: What do you hope to achieve during your term as SGA vice president?
A: As SGA vice president, I hope to accomplish the amazing platform points that we ran on. We committed to facilitating the expansion of our mental health and wellness resources and the focus on visible inclusivity at this university, with an overall goal of ensuring that students feel heard, understood and well-represented. In addition to achieving the points we already have set out, I hope that as advocates for our peers, Tavana and I will be able to amplify the voices of all students and ensure that all students know that they have someone who will listen. I hope to use this platform to give students the platform that we need, to not only voice their concerns but also to achieve the tangible changes that we are all seeking.

Q: What motivated you to run for SGA vice president?
A: The incredible student leaders that came before me and inspired me to grow into the person that I am really motivated me, and they continue to motivate me. That inspiration along with the constant love, support and encouragement of the people I choose to surround myself with, particularly Tavana and our campaign manager and best friend, Cricket Kaya, motivated me to run and continues to motivate me every day. I love people and I love advocating for others. Student government is the place where these passions can be put into action. My love for SGA and for the OU student body, along with my love for all that OU can be for us, motivated me to run.

Q: What do you love most about the University of Oklahoma?
A: I love the community that the students at the University of Oklahoma have created. I think OU is so special because of the amazing people that are here. The way that we have been able to continue to foster this sense of community, even in unprecedented times where we have not been able to fully physically experience that sense of community and the safety that comes from it. I love OU because it has given me so many people that I love and experiences that I will treasure forever, and within the opportunity to hold this leadership position my love has grown exponentially.

Q: What do you hope to achieve during your term as SGA president?
A: This academic year has presented its own challenges and we have had to be very creative in our normal programming and leadership. I hope that during my term as SGA president we are able to provide current students with ways to connect with each other and bring about changes that will positively impact the campus as a whole.

Q: What motivated you to run for SGA president?
A: I was fortunate enough to join the HSC SGA Executive Board two years ago and had fantastic mentors throughout that time. Learning and working with them served as the catalyst for my decision to run for this role. The ability to impact the student experience for the better was an additional reason why I was motivated to continue to serve on the Executive Board as president.  

Q: What do you love most about the University of Oklahoma?
A: One hundred percent the OU culture. From the moment I interviewed here to my first day of classes, I was welcomed into a community that truly made this feel like home.

Q: What do you hope to achieve during your term as SGA vice president?
A: I hope to improve communication and collaboration between members of the OUHSC student, faculty and staff senates. I also want to work on joint initiatives between the subcommittees of the student senate to improve the lives of all of our health professional students. I hope to set up initiatives and collaborations that will benefit students for years to come.

Q: What motivated you to run for SGA vice president?
A: I wanted to run for OUHSC SGA vice president because I love giving back to the community and wanted to help my fellow students. This has been a wonderful opportunity to support friends and colleagues during a difficult time and help navigate the unique challenges that the 2020-2021 school year has brought with it.

Q: What do you love most about the University of Oklahoma?
A: I love OUHSC and the seven different graduate health colleges located in Oklahoma City on one campus. This provides opportunities to collaborate with students from different programs in volunteering, clinics and student government initiatives. It has been great developing relationships with and learning from students that are in a different program during my time at OUHSC.

Q: What do you hope to achieve during your term as SGA president?
A: I hope to use collaborative leadership in order to foster teamwork and collaboration between faculty, staff and student groups. I hope to gain more student involvement across campus in order to meet the needs of students and continue to ensure the mission of SGA is being met.

Q: What motivated you to run for SGA president?
A: After serving as a voting representative during my first year, I knew I wanted to get more involved on campus. I saw the potential in OU-Tulsa SGA and the students who participated in it. I wanted to continue to foster an environment that is welcoming and inclusive. 

Q: What do you love most about the University of Oklahoma?
A: The thing I love most about OU is the people I’ve met here and how dedicated the faculty and staff are to students’ success.

Q: What do you hope to achieve during your term as SGA vice president?
A: As vice president, my goal is to be a voice for those not heard. Specifically, students that identify as being LGBTQ+. I am a gay male. I completed my undergraduate studies at a Christian university, and it was quite debilitating not having the capability to be who I am. I never want any student at our university to encounter those feelings. Essentially, I hope to create a more inclusive environment at OU-Tulsa.

Q: What motivated you to run for SGA vice president?
A: I was a student rep the year prior and had the desire to create a more diverse environment. Along with the rest of the executive board of OUTSGA, I believe we are doing just that.

Q: What do you love most about the University of Oklahoma?
A: Personally, what I love most about the University of Oklahoma is the people that make the institution what it is. Faculty listen to the ideas that we have as students. At OU-Tulsa, what I love most are the small class sizes and my professors.

Article Published:  Wednesday, January 13, 2021

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