New ASUSU exec. VP sworn in for spring
Ashley Johnson was sworn in as the new executive vice president for ASUSU last night.
Former executive vice president, Jacob Roskelley, will be doing an internship next semester in Washington, D.C., and had to resign his position. Roskelley said he was in his third semester of service with ASUSU, having served as public relations director last year.
“For Jake’s time in office, he has been fantastic. No one could have any complaints about him or his service,” said ASUSU President Peter McChesney.
A step in fulfilling a dream is what McChesney calls Roskelley’s internship, and he said if any member of ASUSU would have been given a similar opportunity, they would take it. Roskelley has weighed his options and made the right decision, McChesney said.
“I will miss being involved and serving the students and being able to hear their concerns and working towards solutions,” Roskelley said.
After serving for three years on the Government Relations Council, completing a lobbying internship, being appointed as a justice by ASUSU last year and being heavily involved in the political science department, ASUSU felt Johnson was the most qualified, McChesney said. Johnson said she found out she had been chosen about an hour before the meeting and was nervous but excited.
“I have a lot of goals with educating students and having them educate us about what their wants and needs are,” Johnson said.
Bridging the gap between students and local government is another area Johnson said she wants to focus on. A senior in political science and psychology, Johnson said she has heard about a lot of graduate school opportunities this year that she would have liked to have known about earlier and wants to allow other students that chance. Getting USU’s name out on a national level is something else Johnson said she is pushing. She said growing up in South Carolina, she had never really heard of USU and came out here on a whim, but has loved it ever since.
“I don’t really know the ins and outs of ASUSU, so I’m looking forward to working with y’all,” Johnson said.
McChesney said the council decided to fill the position now as the legislative session begins the beginning of next semester and Johnson will have many responsibilities which need prior preparation.
-alison.baugh@aggiemail.usu.edu