Emerging Lobo Leaders, a facet of the undergraduate student government organization ASUNM, allows freshmen to participate in student government and pursue leadership opportunities as they begin their college experience.
Hannah Russell, the group’s director, said the program presents a unique opportunity for freshmen.
“Typically you’d have to be appointed to a position as a director of an agency, hired by the president as staff for one of the agencies, or elected,” she said. “As a freshman it’s kind of overwhelming to come onto campus and want to get involved if you were in student government in high school or you were a leader in your community, but you don’t know how to get involved at UNM.”
ASUNM President Jaymie Roybal said she has seen the program succeed.
“It’s a great program because it gives students a good gateway and a kind of crash course, if you will, as to how ASUNM and student organizations function and work,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity for freshmen.”
Russell said two freshmen who took part in the program last year ran for ASUNM senate during the spring semester and won.
“It’s networking, too,” she said. “If the student government knows you and they’re behind you, it’s awesome as far as your chances go to win.”
ELL is beginning its second year, and Russell said plans to expand are underway. Last year the program had 20 student participants; this year, the goal is to have between 25 and 30.
“A lot of people who are applying have been involved in similar things in high school, but we also have applicants who just played Varsity soccer in high school,” Russel said. “All that matters to us is you want to get involved now, and interested in being a leader now.”
Selected students will meet with leaders within ASUNM, such as the president, vice president and attorney general, as well as the directors of the different agencies within ASUNM’s executive branch, like Lobo Spirit, Student Special Events and Community Experience to learn how student government works.
“ELL was the best way for me to learn what ASUNM actually does,” said Frankie Gonzales, who participated as a freshmen last year. “It’s more than ASUNM, though — it is about leadership and learning to be involved, and I would encourage other freshmen to apply.”
He now serves in a paid position as the assistant director for ELL under ASUNM.
Russell said there will be more hands-on opportunities after the first month in the program.
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“Each of the agencies is going to have a special project they’ll give to the ELLs,” she said. “For example, Student Special Events is considering giving the marketing of their annual Halloween event to [us], so ELLs can design fliers and distribute them, and learn how these things are paid for and how it works.”
ELL is also planning a day for local high school students who serve in student government to come to UNM and learn about the workings of government on the college level.
Students can pick up ELL applications in the ASUNM office on the bottom floor of the SUB until Aug. 29. Students will be contacted for interviews and will be notified by Sept. 5 as to whether they’ve been accepted.
