Portrait #20  (1-2005)                                    

Name: Ashley Simpson
Age: 20
School: Seminole Community College
Major: Sociology
Phone: 407-314-1324
E-mail: simpsona@scc-fl.edu
Hobbies: watching movies, participating in community service, reading, writing, enhancing leadership development, and running

Previous roles in Student Government:
Historian

Why did you become involved in SGA?
     “I wanted to make a difference for my school, my classmates, and myself. I also knew that it would be a great way to enhance my leadership and networking skills.”

Who is your role model?
     “My mom is my biggest influence because she taught me the values that I now live by and she always sees the positive in any situation.“

What is your administration’s biggest challenge?
     “Externally, our biggest challenge has been the student ID system. Our main goal with this has been to keep the student ID issue on the college’s agenda, as a priority supported by the student body. Internally, our biggest challenge has been to recruit and maintain both members and officers. We’ve dealt with this through consistent recruitment efforts for members and constant advertisement of available positions.”

What legacy will your administration leave?
     “Our administration will leave behind a legacy of striving to be the best. The cornerstone of our Student Government is making a difference. Providing students with an opportunity to develop their personal skills through service is what makes our SG stand above the rest.“

How does student body view SGA?
     “I believe that the student body views SG as an organization that focuses on campus issues, encourages student leadership, and sponsors fun campus activities and socials while enhancing the skills of its members through leadership and personal development.”

Describe your relationship with the administration
     “The administration here is outstanding. They’re very supportive of our SG agenda, and they provide us with the necessary support to achieve our goals. I communicate with them regularly through e-mails and the school committee meetings I attend. Furthermore, six of our college’s top administrators have attended or made plans to attend one of our SG meetings, including the college president, vice-president, and directors.”

Describe your relationship with the media.
     “Our relationship with the campus media has been distant at best. We haven’t gone to them as much as we should have to provide media coverage for our activities. It is a goal of mine to change this and use the campus media for the benefit of SG.”

What advice would you give to other SGA presidents?
     “I would tell them to bring their ‘A’ game with them everywhere they go, to ask questions, pay attention, learn, and to use what they know.”

What are your plans after graduation?
     “I plan on attending the University of Central Florida and receiving my Bachelors in sociology and then a Masters in educational leadership.”

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