Fresh faces, new ideas and a commitment to making positive changes on campus: Meet the 2024-25 Student Government leadership team.
Leading the charge are Student Body President Deon Rodrigues, Vice President Areeb Khan, Speaker of the Senate Gaven Lopez, Chief of Staff Effua Jordan and Chief Justice Kaitlyn Clay.
“Student Government is a place where leaders are truly made, and your character is tested at every corner. It’s a place where we grow together as people and during that growth, we make everlasting relationships,” Lopez said in an email.
The team set a collection of goals, which include making UTA a positive student environment by caring for everyone and increasing Fraternity and Sorority Life initiatives.
As president, Rodrigues represents students in various ways, including enacting and executing legislation. He is the student liaison between university administration, the UT System Board of Regents, the City of Arlington, and the Texas Legislature. Additionally, he appoints students to committees and boards, updating the Senate on university matters, Rodrigues said in an email.
He also oversees the organization and holds weekly meetings with Lowell Davis, vice president of Student Affairs, to discuss student initiatives, concerns, feedback and campus changes.
“To me, Student Government is more than just an organization; it is the voice of the students,” Rodrigues added. “It’s a platform where students can express their concerns, advocate for change and work together to improve the university experience for everyone.”
Rodrigues is most excited about working with a diverse group of students and leaders, as he feels the potential to create lasting impacts on the university and its students is incredibly motivating.
As vice president, Khan shared in an email that his role involves managing the Student Government team and focusing on internal management like recruiting, onboarding, training and tracking member progress. While Rodrigues handles external relations, he assists Khan in meetings with UTA President Jennifer Cowley, Davis and other administrations.
He also chairs the Assembly of College Councils, where representatives from each college constituency collaborate on shared initiatives. Additionally, he manages the Maverick Discounts Program, partnering with local businesses to offer student discounts and accompanies Rodrigues in the Undergraduate Assembly and the UT System Student Advisory Council.
Khan added that he never expected to be in this role when he started college. Originally from Pakistan, he came to the U.S. three years ago. He was shy and uninvolved, but Student Government helped him break out of his shell. He said he went from being the quietest person in the room to the voice of over 40,000 students, making many friends along the way. The organization holds a special place in his heart.
When Rodrigues and Khan campaigned, they aimed to leave a legacy by advancing FSL, improving student life on campus, representing underrepresented communities and enhancing student welfare. So far, they have been successful, achieving the best recruitment season post-COVID-19 with nearly 200 applications — a more than 150% increase from last year, Khan said.
“This is my last year of undergrad, so my main goal is to have fun and meet new people. School can be stressful, and organizations like Student Government offer the perfect balance of doing something meaningful that helps students and the community, while also getting to know people and having a great time.” Khan added.
Lopez’s role as Speaker of the Senate includes chairing all general body meetings and coordinating the four committees and resolution process. He also appoints members to the Senate and coordinates all activities within the legislative branch.
“I’m excited to meet new people and teach them about Student Government and what it does,” Lopez said. “Being the speaker allows me to be a teacher for others and provide them with an experience of personal growth.”
One of Lopez’s goals is to provide a structured position. He has a binder dedicated to his successor consisting of all his mistakes, tips and tricks, personal notes and ways to go through all the legislative processes. He said it will document everything he learned throughout his time in the role so the next speaker can be better prepared.
As Chief Justice Clay practices and enacts the Registered Student Organizations allocation process, which involves funding for campus organizations to host events and coordinate elections.
Clay aims to create a strong foundation for future chief justices by defining the position and improving the onboarding process. Her goal is to establish systems for efficient student government and judicial branch operations.
“To me, Student Government means representation or leading by example; being a representation. I think one of the biggest things I’ve learned and/or am learning is that we want to make this organization into a legacy of leaders who actively want to participate and grow in their professional stature and make decisions that will advance their leadership skills,” Clay said in an email.
Jordan plans and runs all Student Government events, manages executive branch meetings and oversees Maverick Opinion Boards. The boards gather student feedback on campus issues and upcoming resolutions, helping to address student needs effectively. She also coordinates outreach to local vendors for the Maverick Discounts Program.
“This year as Chief of Staff, I hope that we will be able to increase our engagement between different organizations on campus as well as the entire student body at UTA. I also hope to create new events that no one has ever seen before, that hopefully can put UTA on the map as the school to be,” Jordan said in an email.
She said Student Government is a place where voices, concerns and opinions can be heard and addressed. As one of the bigger organizations on campus, she said they can have conversations that aren’t happening in other spaces.
Involvement in Student Government is crucial because, without student feedback, she said there’s no way to improve campus life. Additionally, people don’t need to be members to create change. The resolution process requires a senator’s backing to be introduced into the Senate, and this process can be found on its website.
“I’m also excited about the challenges that come with this role. Each challenge is an opportunity to learn, grow and find innovative solutions,” Rodrigues said. “Working with administration, faculty and students to navigate these challenges is something I’m looking forward to.”
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