The Board of Visitors announced the selection of its newest non-voting student member last Friday.
Lizzie Mullen, a third-year American Studies major, was chosen out of 29 applicants to succeed the current student board member, fourth-year Catherine Neale.
"I think that Lizzie has a firm grasp on student opinions and student issues and she has the ability to relate to the board members really well," Neale said.
Neale, among other students, joined Pat Lampkin, Vice President of Student Affairs, and Board Secretary Alexander Gilliam on the committee that conducted interviews and selected the five finalists.
"Lizzie knows and is well-known to a great number and variety of students," said Board Rector Thomas F. Farrell. "The Committee has seldom heard expressed a passion for the University as intense as hers."
Mullen is involved in a wide array of University activities, including serving as a senior support officer for the Honor Committee, Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, the IMP society and the Madison House Big Siblings program.
"My time at the University has been the best years of my life," Mullen said. "I am indebted, and I hope to pay back this debt."
According to Neale, the student board member is a non-voting constituent of the Board who is there to provide a student viewpoint to board members.
"I think the most important thing is to listen to students and talk to students and garner as much student opinion as possible," Neale said.
Mullen shares this view, as she said, "One of the things I really liked about this position was that I was never expected to come in with my own agenda. I'm not there to vote, or to offer my own opinion. My own goal is to be a fair and accurate representative of student opinion."
Mullen's friends and co-workers said they feel that she'll have no problem providing this impartial outlook.
"I think she'll consider things from several different perspectives," said Miles Clements, Mullen's friend and Honor committee member. "Lizzie has boundless energy and will relay the needs of lots of different people and constituents at U.Va. to the board members. She will bring an energy and willingness to keep an open mind and consider the needs of everybody."
While Mullen can participate in any Board committee, she must serve on the Student Affairs and Athletics committee.
"This is where I will have the most impact because it directly affects students," Mullen said.
Serving on the Student Affairs and Athletics Committee, Mullen will deal with issues such as student advising and the financial aid program AccessUVa.
Mullen will begin her term at the end of April and will hold her position for one year.
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