Meet your CAAS Senator: Sakia Brost
Advocating for students with an open-mind
Sakia Brost, Utah State University’s College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences senator, has a lot of duties, but her top priority is the students.
“As the CAAS senator, my first responsibility is to be here for the students and listen to them,” Brost said. “I hope to portray to the students that I am approachable and here for them. Without the students, my position would not exist. I work for the students and want to hear all their ideas and concerns.”
Brost’s other goals and duties include raising awareness on internship opportunities, campus activities and the diversity of CAAS.
“I want every student here at Utah State to know just how diverse the CAAS really is,” she said. “Everything from Aviation, Dietetics, Animal Science, Outdoor Products Design and Development and even teaching can be found in the CAAS.”
Brost also wants to increase club involvement and unity.
“Every student should be a member of at least one club and the clubs should share their members,” she said. “This is a great way to stay involved here at USU.”
Brost became the senator after serving as a CAAS ambassador and being on the Dean’s Leadership Council in 2018.
Ken White, the dean of the CAAS, said the position of a senator carries a lot of responsibility.
“You must represent the students in CAAS,” he said. “Sometimes as senator, you must put aside personal perspectives to effectively represent the students in the college when your own opinion may contradict the majority of the students in the college or contradicts their best long-term interests.”
White said Brost is a strong advocate for students because of her strong leadership skills.
“It’s been refreshing to have a senator with the strong leadership skills and commitment to make a difference,” he said. “She is open-minded, listens and wants to make the college better. She clearly has the best interests of our students as her primary focus. You get a very clear sense she is doing this for all the right reasons. She has been a pleasure to work with, and I am excited to see what we can accomplish together.”
Professor Brian Warnick from CAAS said Brost has been “outstanding” in fulfilling the roles and responsibilities of a senator.
“She is a strong leader but does so without pushing her own agenda,” he said. “She seeks to understand the perspective of others and has shown excellent leadership skills. She is well respected by students, faculty and administrators.”
Brost’s mother, Darann Smith, said Brost has been very driven her whole life. She described her as a problem solver and a natural leader.
Smith said she wasn’t surprised when Brost ran for CAAS senator.
“She has always loved to serve others and to do what she can do to make an organization better,” Smith said. “We were thrilled and overjoyed when she was able to accomplish this goal that she set for herself and have enjoyed watching her broaden her leadership horizons and reach others.”
Smith has noticed a few changes in Brost after being a senator.
“She is even busier than she ever was but she loves every second of it,” Smith said. “I have also watched her grow into a mature leader and she is starting to look at things from a different point of view than just as a student. It’s like she’s been taking the next step into adulthood and I have watched her enjoy being a part of some awesome discussions with other colleges and departments and be one that people look to for answers and support.”
@harriskarcin