SXSW EDU 2025

College Student Government Leaders as Public Officials

Description:

College student government leaders are public officials. In many contexts, they represent tens of thousands of constituents, manage million-dollar budgets, and meet with legislators and policymakers with access to decision-making more than most others on the college campus. This session will respond to the, “so what,” of understanding, viewing, and honoring college and university student government officers as public officials. The session explores power in the role, politics and partisanship, student resolutions, preparation for post-college roles, and mental health and safety of leaders.


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Takeaways

  1. Attendees will learn more about the role of student government in higher education, as well as its relationship to public office.
  2. Attendees will consider their view of college student government as a form of public office, reshaping the expectation(s) elected leaders.
  3. Attendees will gain recommendations and tools to reshape their on-campus and community-based support for student government leaders.

Speakers


Organizer

Michael A. Goodman, Assistant Professor of Practice, The University of Texas at Austin


Meta Information:

  • Tags: administration, community impact
  • Event: EDU
  • Format: Solo
  • Track: Leadership for Tomorrow
  • Session Focus Area Higher Education
  • Level: Deep Understanding


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