The Board of Visitors announced the appointment of third-year College student Meg Gould as its student member Saturday. Gould will replace fourth-year College student Blake Blaze when his term ends June 1.
Gould said she hopes to bring the priorities of both larger and smaller student groups around Grounds to the attention of the Board.
“I want communication to be as broad as possible and as personal as possible,” she said. “[I am] really trying to bring those voices [of smaller student groups] to the Board room.”
Gould also said the Board should prioritize AccessUVa, the University’s financial aid program, and should consider ways to bring back full-grant aid for the long term, an offering the Board voted to remove from aid packages to low-income students at its meeting in August. The philanthropic efforts around AccessUVa should continue as well, she said.
“I understand that these large institutional decisions require … financial constraints,” Gould said. “I do think it is the role of the student member to provide a voice to the students who might see those priorities differently.”
More broadly, Gould said, the Board should internally encourage the new advising model, and externally leverage the global internships program and other initiatives to bolster the University’s global competitiveness. Encouraging inter-disciplinary collaboration as a part of the strategic plan would benefit the University, Gould said.
Gould said she will continue her campaign for Honor Committee College Representative, but said she is unlikely to seek one of the four vice-chair positions if elected. Gould currently serves as senior counselor for the Committee.
“I really care a lot about the Honor System,” Gould said. “I still believe I could serve as a valuable representative of the college.”
Gould has served on class council and co-edited EngageUVA, a newsletter advertising public service opportunities through the University. She is currently studying abroad in France and worked as a waitress at the Virginian last semester.
“I saw this role as a way to give back to all of those different organizations,” Gould said. “I was encouraged to apply by a few different people.”
The application process involved three rounds. Students first completed a written application. Then selected applicants interviewed with a group of student leaders, which included Honor Committee Chair Evan Behrle, Judiciary Committee Chair David Ensey and students in both the Darden School and Batten School.
In the third round, the Executive Committee of the Board interviewed three finalists. Pat Lampkin, the vice president for student affairs, and Blaze were involved in both the second and third round interviews.
Gould said she thought the application process gave an opportunity for both student leaders and board members to get to know candidates and how they could best serve the Board.
“I think there needs to be more publicity about the position,” Gould said. “I know there wasn’t as large an applicant pool as there is for other big positions.”
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