Elevating student voices and getting them engaged in governance among priorities for the business double major.
For Isabelle Alamilla, ’25, being involved in student government is a passion that runs deep, one that began in earnest as a high schooler in Utah and continued as an undergrad at Seattle University.
Her foray into student government at SU began her freshman year when Alamilla served as a senator. From there she remained active in student politics, ultimately deciding to run for Student Body President. Fast forward to today and Alamilla is ready to embark on her first full year in the role.
“The reason I got involved in student government is that I love giving back to my community,” says Alamilla, who is a double major in business management and business analytics. “It teaches me how to deal with complex issues and conflict resolution and is really great for professional development. It’s also the people in student government. They push me to give 100%. If I let one student down, I’m letting everyone down.”
Operating under a shared approach to governance as president, Alamilla is ready to tackle several areas that directly impact students.
“This past year, there have been a lot changes, whether it is the tuition increase, wage disparities for faculty and changes in programs … and students felt cut out of the conversation (around these issues.) They felt blindsided,” she says. “Part of what I want to accomplish is to have more effective feedback and collaboration between students and the administration. If students are experiencing something on the ground level, I want to be the first to hear about it.”
She encourages students who want their voices to be heard or want to learn more about student government—including running for office—to reach out.
“I am really excited for this coming year.”
Read more about Isabelle, including her favorite eateries and hangout spots in Seattle, in the fall edition of Seattle University Magazine out in November.
Written by Tina Potterf
Thursday, September 28, 2023