UTSA President Connects Students with City Government

We recently spoke with Ileana Gonzalez, the President of the University of Texas at San Antonio Student Government Association (UTSA SGA). She spoke about her experience as president and her work to engage the campus with San Antonio's city government.Read more


Wichita State Opens New Campus Food Pantry

We recently interviewed Kiah Duggins, Chief of Staff for the Wichita State University Student Government Association, about their new campus food pantry.Read more


DePaul Students Urge State to Fund MAP Grants

We recently interviewed Vanessa Cadavillo, President of the DePaul University Student Government Association (SGA), about her organization's campaign to win funding for Illinois' MAP grant program.Read more


University of Nevada Students Connect With City of Reno

We recently interviewed Nick Andrew, the Speaker of the Senate for the Associated Students of the University of Nevada (ASUN). We spoke to him about ASUN's "Campus to the City" initiative to connect students with the city of Reno.Read more


UCSB Shares Voices of Hunger

ASUCSB Food BankWe recently spoke with Juli Nguyen from the Food Bank run by the Associated Students of the University of California, Santa Barbara (ASUCSB). She told us about "Voices of Hunger," the Food Bank's new campaign to raise awareness about student food insecurity.Read more


ASUNM Develops Next Generation of Leaders

ELL LogoWe recently spoke with Kyle Biederwolf, the director of Emerging Lobo Leaders at the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico (ASUNM). Emerging Lobo Leaders is a program that provides leadership opportunities for incoming UNM students. It serves as a vehicle to recruit and train future leaders for ASUNM and other student organizations.

Please tell us your name and current position in student government. Please also tell us a little bit about who you are: your year, major, and any other background info you’d like to share.
My name is Kyle Biederwolf. My current position is Executive Director of the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico’s (ASUNM’s) Emerging Lobo Leaders. I am a junior studying Marketing at the Anderson School of Management. I love Lobo basketball, “The Office” and changing peoples lives.

How did you get involved in ASUNM?
I knew right when I came to UNM that I wanted to get involved in the student government. I was a part of Youth in Government in high school and really found my passion, so there was never a question of whether or not I would join ASUNM. In the spring of my freshman year, then-ASUNM Presidential candidate Rachel Williams and Vice Presidential candidate Jenna Hagengruber reached out to me about running for a seat on the student senate. I immediately agreed, and the rest was history.Read more


SUNY Students Organize Statewide Advocacy Effort

We recently spoke with Marc Cohen, the Senior Director of External Relations for the SUNY Student Assembly, about their recent lobby day at the state capitol.

Please tell us your name and current position with the SUNY Student Assembly. Please also tell us a little bit about who you are: your year, area of study, any other background info you’d like to share.
My name is Marc Cohen. I’m a Junior at the University at Albany studying Political Science and Philosophy, and the Senior Director of External Relations for the SUNY Student Assembly. I also serve the University at Albany Student Association as Vice President.Read more


Pittsburgh Student Governments Work in Citywide Coalition

Pittsburgh student leaders meet with Mayor Peduto.
Pittsburgh student leaders meet with Mayor Peduto.

We recently spoke with Dave Gau, the President of the Pittsburgh Student Government Council (PSGC). The PSGC is a coalition of student governments from eleven colleges in the Pittsburgh area. Together, they advocate on local issues that affect students.

Please tell us your name and current position in student government. Please also tell us a little bit about who you are: your year, area of study, any other background info you’d like to share.
My name is Dave Gau, President of the Pittsburgh Student Government Council and also President of the University of Pittsburgh Graduate and Professional Student Government. I graduated from Pitt in 2011 with a BPhil in Bioengineering and BS in Math and Economics. I am currently a third-year PhD student in Bioengineering at Pitt. I am originally from Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, and also went abroad from 2011-2012 to work in Australia with a Whitaker Fellowship and Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship prior to returning to work on my PhD.Read more


Nevada Students Lobby in Carson City

We recently talked with Elias Benjelloun, the Student Body President of the Consolidated Students of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV CSUN). He spoke to us about a recent lobby day attended by Nevada students from across the state.

Please tell us your name and current position in student government. Please also tell us a little bit about who you are: your year, area of study, any other background info you’d like to share.
My name is Elias Benjelloun and I serve as the undergraduate Student Body President of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. I represent the 23,000 undergraduates at UNLV and oversee a $1.2 million annual budget. I am graduating this semester with my degree in biology and plan on pursuing graduate programs here at UNLV where I can continue serving my local communities.Read more


Louisiana State University Campaigns Against Budget Cuts

Louisiana students are currently facing deep proposed cuts to the state's higher education budget. Bradley Guin, a student leader from the Louisiana State University Student Government, told us about their efforts to prevent these cuts this spring.

Please tell us your name and current position in student government. Please also tell us a little bit about who you are: your year, major, any other background info you’d like to share.
My name is Bradley Guin and I serve as the State Capitol Advisor for the LSU Student Government. I essentially serve as the liaison between LSU SG and state leaders and legislators on matters affecting LSU and higher education. I’m currently a senior studying political science, and I will be attending law school next fall.Read more