Report to the Chancellor’s Council
University System of Maryland Student Council
August 3, 2015
Appointment of Executive Board Directors
The USM Student Council Executive Officers have conducted interviews and have sent
out offers to candidates for Director and Assistant Director positions. President Wallace
was extremely pleased with the high level of applicants, but will be working with the
following institutions that were not represented in the applicant pool:
Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Frostburg State University, Salisbury
University, Universities at Shady Grove, University System of Maryland at Hagerstown,
University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, University of Maryland, University College, and
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Below are the appointed individuals who will serve in their respective capacity, but will
still need to be confirmed by the Student Council General Body:
Brandon Wharton, Towson University – Undergraduate
Director of Communications and Marketing
Jasmine Gibson, University of Baltimore – Undergraduate
Assistant Director of Communications and Marketing
Yvette Pappoe, University of Maryland, Baltimore – Graduate
Director of Diversity and Inclusion
Maia Williams, Towson University – Undergraduate
Assistant Director of Diversity and Inclusion
Benjamin Mendelshon, University of Baltimore – Graduate
Director of Finance and Management
Kyle Bamberger, Towson University – Undergraduate
Assistant Director of Finance and Management
Aiden Galloway, University of Maryland, College Park – Undergraduate
Director of Governmental Affairs
Mark O’Halloran, University of Maryland, College Park & University of
Maryland, Baltimore – Graduate
Assistant Director of Governmental Affairs
Samantha Figueroa, Towson University – Undergraduate
Director of Student Affairs
Karina Mandell, University of Maryland, Baltimore – Graduate
Assistant Director of Student Affairs
Executive Board Initiatives
On Monday, July 27th, the USM Student Council Executive Board held its first
Executive Board meeting to discuss the schedule of meetings and any initiatives and
policies to advocate for or against. Vice President for Graduate Affairs, Dan Miller of
UMBC, will be spearheading the creation of a comprehensive Strategic Plan that will
spell out, step by step, what is needed in order for each initiative to be successful.
Below is a listing of tentative initiatives for each Executive Board position:
President:
- A USM-wide policy that prohibits the hanging of the Confederate Battle flag in
all campus buildings that are capitally and/or operationally funded through public
funds
- A USM-wide Student Bereavement Policy
Vice Presidents:
- Examining the +/- grading system and its uniformity throughout the system
- Studying the diversity and employment representation of Graduate Assistants
Director of Communications and Marketing
- Creating a listserv of media outlet sources from on campus and off campus
newspapers, television, and radio
- Produce a uniform and longstanding social media engagement strategy
Director of Diversity and Inclusion
- Work with CUSS and CUSF to examine the level of cultural competence,
diversity, and diversity training among our faculty and staff with relation to
student
- Studying the application, acceptance, enrollment, and academic success rates of
minority students throughout the system
Director of Finance and Management
- Researching the rising costs of education within the system [tuition, fees,
textbooks (MOST)];
- Increasing efforts in higher educational financial literacy for students
Director of Governmental Affairs
- Coordination of a lobby day on Capitol Hill to fight for reauthorization of Higher
Education Act (summer Pell Grants, refinancing student loans), sexual assault
polices, Senator Booker’s FAFSA restructuring bill, Congressman Cummings’
Unpaid Intern protection bill
- Meeting with Governor Hogan, President Miller, and Speaker Busch (pre-session)
to discuss affordable college and economic development around our universities
Director of Student Affairs
- Working with our SGAs/GSAs to increase school pride for all of our campuses
(tailgating, concerts/festivals, etc.)
- Examining the degree of Specialized Housing on and around our campuses to
make sure there is equity throughout the system (Honors housing, Greek housing,
Gender Neutral housing, etc.)
Respectfully submitted,
Kennard Alexander Wallace
Student Council President
University System of Maryland
(e.) - Kennard.Wallace@ubalt.edu
(t.) - (240) – 271 – 7376