Finalist
Matt Collier
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Junior in Aerospace Engineering
3.84 GPA

He’s Student Government Association President, a resident assistant, a trustee, a columnist, and…a cover model? Matt Collier, 20, is a familiar face at Florida Leader magazine, having been showcased on the cover of this year’s “Best of Florida Schools” issue and dubbed the “million-dollar man” for the big-money policy changes he’s implemented at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

As a full voting member on the board of trustees with students on his agenda, Collier refused to see his fellow ERAU classmates suffer from another tuition hike. He fought hard and negotiated with the board, ending in a million-dollar save for the student body. “He successfully ‘beat up’ the board of trustees to reduce the tuition increase,” says Paul Bell, associate dean of students. “He’s comfortable expressing his views and doesn’t hesitate to pick up the phone and call their cell phones.” Collier says he communicates with about nine trustees on a regular basis.  “It’s about personal relationships,” he says. “It’s not only about business, but establishing trust and respect—that’s how you get things accomplished.” As a student representative on the board of trustees, Collier reports to members about SGA, campus operations, and student concerns. In addition, he serves on the executive, finance, and student life committees.

Not only did Collier help save students money, he helped give them a place to unwind. During his reign as SGA president, he lobbied for millions of dollars to implement construction plans for an activities lounge on campus where students could relax and have fun in a safe, positive environment. “This will alleviate the problem of students having to venture off campus into often dangerous and compromising situations such as bars and nightclubs,” he says.

Expanding on the everyday needs of students, Collier continued to fight for change. He successfully negotiated with the university for more campus parking, which eased transportation stresses for many students. “This is the first year I’ve not heard complaints about parking,” says Dr. Glenn Dorn, aerospace studies chairman.

Collier worked to overturn a controversial graduation policy when the university eliminated its fall ceremony. After an on-line poll revealed 90 percent of students were in favor of two graduations, the SGA leader stepped in. “The administration neglected the fact that if ROTC and international students were able to graduate in the fall, they wouldn’t be able to partake in the spring ceremonies due to commissioning and travel restrictions,” Collier says. “By helping to reverse the administration’s decision, I’ve touched the lives of not only the students but their families and friends as well.” Collier’s one of the first SGA presidents to utilize the power the position encompasses, Dorn says. “He’s not afraid to go toe-to-toe with me,” he says. “Most students don’t have the courage to do it.”

The Pennsylvania native helped cultivate plans for a new student union and focused on creative sources of funding with the chancellor. He served on the Masters Planning Committee to help chart the future of ERAU. Collier has developed his business savvy and personal rapport with officials through his job as a student assistant in the office of the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, where he’s worked since 2001. He interacts with university officials and guests, creates resource documents, and assists with board meetings and special events.

His dedication to lobbying for student interests and leadership improvement is only exemplified through his creation of Task Force One. Thanks to the program, which puts first-year students into close contact with SGA programs, freshmen at ERAU no longer have that deer-caught-in-the-headlights look, afraid of taking on leadership positions their first year on campus. Working with the dean of students, Collier paved the way for new students to become directly involved with SGA, something most put off until after their freshman year. Now, they have the confidence to become active campus leaders, and the steps Collier has implemented into the program encourage them to remain involved each and every semester. There are about 20 students that attend on a regular basis, he says. “They’re getting their feet wet in terms of campus leadership,” Collier says. “Maybe they’ll make runs for executive offices by junior year.”

He doesn’t limit himself to communicating with the board of trustees and administration, however. Collier has made interaction with fellow students a primary goal. “My biggest success this year has been strengthening the student voice on campus,” he says. “We’ve strengthened the student voice by building relationships with administration, faculty, the board of trustees—and constituency that has influence over what happens.” Collier is the student liaison on the Faculty Senate and voices student concerns to members. “I’ve ensured that as SGA president, I would attend every Faculty Senate meeting and interact with all levels of academia,” he says. “This relationship has proven time and time again to be invaluable in terms of having the support of the faculty on major issues, and surely, it’s helped me accomplish more than I dreamed possible.”

Collier has worked to strengthen the communication gap between SGA and the student body, writing regular columns for ERAU’s student newspaper, The Avion.  “He makes an effort to go out and meet new students,” Bell says. “It’s hard to get students interested in things, and on a Thursday night, 60 students showed up to hear a board of trustees member speak.” The SGA leader says he wouldn’t be able to effectuate change the way he has without help from other active students. “I’ve made every effort to set an example of a servant-leader,” he says. “It makes a powerful statement to roll up my sleeves and do the ‘dirty work’ with the rest of the team.”

The aerospace engineering major maintains his 3.84 GPA while working as a resident advisor, serving as a mentor and leader to improve life in the dorms. Collier planned an elaborate, two-floor haunted house at Halloween as an outreach to children trick-or-treating in the community. Halloween certainly wasn’t the only thing keeping him busy in October, as he developed a three-day fall leadership conference, complete with keynote speakers and networking opportunities as part of the organization of Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida.

Collier serves as chair of the ICUF Student Alliance, through which he was influential in founding an alliance between Student Governments. He works on the Collegiate Events Committee for the City of Daytona Beach, helping make plans regarding city policy and special events, and observes classes and reviews teaching credentials for the Outstanding Teacher Committee. Collier also attends numerous conferences, including the National Conference on Student Services in San Diego, during which he was recognized as a Certified Student Leader. He even presented a speech on hate crimes at a Barry University conference and has been asked to present at this year’s spring conference. “He’s a strong, passionate, and persuasive speaker,” Dorn says. “Matt’s activism has left a permanent mark on ERAU.” With hopes of establishing a career in business and perhaps politics, Collier says he may even pursue a career at a university like ERAU. “I could see myself coming back as an administrator at this school,” Collier says. “I’ve actually joked with an alumni trustee, ‘Look out—I’m coming for your job!’”

A tuition voucher pays for approximately two-thirds of Collier’s tuition and expenses, while the remainder is covered by scholarships, including the A.L Ueltschi Scholarship and the McKay Scholarship. —LD

Contact Collier at collie3ef@erau.edu.