The Board of Visitors selected third-year College student Adom Getachew as its new student member Friday.
According to current student member Carey Mignerey, the responsibilities of the Board's student member include representing "students' opinion on the board [and] informing the board about what students think about a variety of issues," and serving as "a means of communication from the board to the student body, so that the student body is informed about the issues that the board discusses and the decisions that the board makes."
Getachew said she plans to maintain close communication with various student groups on Grounds.
"I plan to reach out to student communities who may feel marginalized," Getachew said. "A good example would be students of color, international students and also I think parts of the grad student community who may feel the University is built around undergrad experience."
Getachew added that she wants to serve as a resource for the student community.
"I am really looking forward to making sure [the] student community knows where I am and knows where to find me, making sure people understand who I am and what my role is," she said. "I want to make sure all student groups can see me as a liaison and I have strong relations with student leaders in different communities within the University."
Getachew is involved in Resident Staff, is a peer advisor for the Office of African-American Affairs and serves on the executive board of Youth Uplift and Brothers United Celebrating Knowledge and Success, she said.
Getachew will become the student member in April, when Mignerey's term ends.
"Adom will shadow me from now through the April board meetings on the morning of [April] 12," Mignerey said. "When the April board meeting concludes, my term will expire and she will become the member in fact."
The student member of the board is elected for a term of one year, which is authorized by the state legislation, Mignerey explained, noting this authorization allows the student member to "be present at all board meetings and be involved in board matters," but does not grant the student member a vote.
According to Sandy Gilliam, secretary of the Board of Visitors, Getachew was chosen because "the Board committee thought that she was the strongest of the candidates."
A student committee narrowed down all applicants to five candidates, who appeared before the Executive Committee of the Board on Wednesday, according to Gilliam.
"[The] Executive Committee interviewed [the candidates] and decided to nominate Adom for the position," Gilliam said. "It was voted on by the full Board at the end of the day on Friday at the last part of the Board of Visitors meeting."
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