Portrait #1  (3-2003)                                    
Name: Shaun Guevarra
Title/Organization: President, Student Government Administration
Age: 21
School: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Major: Aerospace Engineering
Phone: 407-616-8592
Email: guevarrs@erau.edu
Favorite book: Leading with Soul, by Lee G. Bolman and Terrence E. Deal
Hobbies: LindyHop, swing, trailing/offroading, backpacking, running a business

Previous roles in Student Government:
     "I was a two-year member of the representative board serving aerospace engineering students, the chair of the Student Organization Review Committee, and the parlimentarian for the representative board.”

Major campaign accomplishments:
1) Major improvement in administration involvement
     “In the past our SGA has had little representation with the major players in our administration. We now successfully have students on basically every administrative committee on campus, from IT programming to parking services to the bookstore and food services. We make sure that the administration is aware of students’ concerns and we make sure the needs of the students are focused on through strategic planning and trustee meetings.”

2) Motivational speeches and forums for students
     “It started with just some simple awareness campaigning by attending club/organization meetings and talking with the students on a more personal level. I was asked to make a speech at the beginning of the year for the freshman orientation and it has built up from there. We also provided a leadership session at the university's annual leadership conference that allowed other members of the SGA to voice out the importance of SGA and its role as leaders for student leaders. Other forums were tailored for student concerns. We focused more on departmental issues, present on topics such as parking and where students’ tuition dollars and SGA fees go. But we added an SGA presentation to each one of these sessions to tie it all together.  I’m also lined up to lead the students through a ‘Take Back the Night’ march on campus.”

3) Major SG awareness and student leadership on active issues
     “The awareness started by talking with other organizations and keeping students abreast of new information. We had our student representatives in the cafeteria at a table with giveaways. These student representatives answered questions, conducted SGA surveys, and talked up SGA activities. SGA has also taken an active stand on student class concerns requiring involvement from the trustee or chancellor level. By having regular meetings and making fair compromises with administration, we make sure student concerns are the top priority.”

Why did you become involved in SG?
     Shaun wanted a chance to represent his degree and get more involved with the university. “I like making an ounce of difference in the education process.”

Who is your role model?
     Shaun’s biggest influence was the vice president of a company he met as a child. “He sat me down and told me his struggles and asked me to just follow the right path, keep my goals, and be the best I possibly can.”

What is your administration’s biggest challenge?
     Embry-Riddle’s SG dealt with a few problems in the beginning of their administration when Shaun had to leave town for part of the summer. “While I was gone, I ran the office from the remote location with fax machine in hand. With weekly teleconferences, we accomplished all of our summer goals and were ready for the fall. We needed to fix relations with the media on campus and the administration which we also accomplished very well.”

What legacy will your administration leave?
     “We are currently fighting for the students to keep their fall graduation ceremonies. We have combined the student leaders together to march with one voice. Through solid leadership and support from the administration—since we have active representation within all university committees—we have kept the students focused and together in their venture for a fair education.”

How does the student body view SG?
     “We started off slow and unseen, but we have made major movements into clubs and other organizations and have worked with student leaders to offer our assistance. Financially they may be disappointed, but we offer more major services then most of our peer schools.”

Describe your relationship with the administration.
     “It's excellent. They’ve asked if I'd be willing to stay longer to help things out. We have a solid open-door policy and very good, honest communication. They make sure I’m aware of everything going on throughout campus.”

Describe your relationship with the media.
     “The relationship is very good, although it started very shaky. The relationship has been fostering forward to a new high, even with budget tensions.”

What advice would you give to other SG presidents?
     Shaun suggests fostering good relationships with your executives, administration and school media. “Know how to disclose information but not burn bridges or step on toes. Politics and business are one unit in the game of education.”

What are your plans after graduation?
Shaun plans to pursue a job in the marketing field of engineering, staying on the business end of things so he can continue to deal with people.

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