Being a student trustee means listening to the voice of the Kean University student body and helping the university grow. A student trustee is expected to keep the World Class Education mission statement alive and serve as a bridge between students and faculty.
Angelica Glispie, junior communications major and marketing minor, has been elected as Kean University's newest alternate student trustee.
"It's greater than just being a leader on campus. It's more of impacting those who want to be a leader," said Glispie. "Anyone can be a leader--It's what you do with the position that makes you a good leader. Two important aspects of a great leader is being able to listen to the voices of those who have concerns and execute change. I will and I can do just that."
Every year, students campaign to become elected to the Kean University Board of Trustees as a student trustee. A student trustee serves a two-year term, which starts as being an alternative member during the first year and a voting member during the second year.
"I feel like all of the candidates were good candidates for this election. I'm really thankful for the student body for my win. I showed a lot of leadership in the past, so I definitely believe I can implement change," said Glispie. "I believe this position is more than being 'the face of Kean'. Some students don't have the courage to speak up to anyone, and I want to be that bridge. I want to be placed somewhere where they have voiced concerns at Kean University."
In order to be nominated as a candidate, a student must have 50 people sign a petition. In addition to gathering support, one must be a full-time matriculated student in good standing, without any history of student conduct violations. Candidates also must be 18 years or older, a citizen of the United States and have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher. Trustees must also have completed at least 30 degree credits, with 15 credits being completed at Kean University.
Glispie has maintained an outstanding 3.8 GPA while making the Dean's List every semester. Previously, she held the title of Student Ambassador of admissions and was also president for I Am Woman, an organization on campus. In order to campaign to be an alternative student trustee, she had to step down from her role as president of her organization. She is still an active member of that organization, as well as being a member for the Rotaract Club of Kean University.
In addition to these leadership roles, she was also a student government representative for the sophomore class and was a member of the gourmet dining advisory board. She has been heavily involved with activities that provide changes for the better and uplifts students on campus.
"This exhibits time management and prioritizing," Glispie says. "In the end, titles are great, but it's what you do with them that makes it even greater. The Board of Trustees requires all of that and more. Assisting with the mission statement of the University is a vital duty of a Board of Trustee. A student like myself will help to uphold that statement by incorporating the most vital factor: your voices."
Glispie initially ran for vice president of programming, but was not elected. She was planning to run for vice president of programming again during her senior year, but she received the email about applying to be the new alternate student trustee and thought about it. She had no plans to be student trustee, but she decided to give it a go. Her parents and friends were very supportive of Glispie running for another position at school and, to her luck, she became the winner.
Her mom was very excited and her dad, although in Jamaica, told her that he is really proud of her.
"I think losing for vice president is my favorite memory at Kean [University] so far. Is that weird to say? If I can't say actually winning for student trustee is my favorite memory, then I would have to say losing for vice president is my favorite," Glispie laughed. "I didn't want to give up running for another leadership role just because I lost to one. It's just to show people that it takes one step at a time. You're going to fail--Every great leader experiences failure. That's what I said when I lost. I cried, but it's okay. Losing for VP became my turning point. I ended up getting something better."
Glispie plans to attend the Nathan Weiss Graduate College at Kean University after she graduates. She wants to secure a graduate assistant position and earn a masters degree in political science or marketing.
"In the end, I want to be a multi-media journalist," said Glispie.
Currently, she is seeking an internship at MSNBC for the spring.
Glispie advises students who are interested in being next year's alternative student trustee to "make sure you have a relationship on campus and with the students. Let them know that you will do whatever it takes to make changes on campus."
Students are free to voice their ideas or opinions to Glispie in any way.
"They can e-mail me to contact me or they can talk to me directly. There is no limit to what they can or cannot say. It's open based because I'm open ears," Glispie stated.
