Gaia Villani and Marlena Moreno are running for the College of Communication Education Senate in the 2024 Associate Student General Election. See below for more information on each candidate.
Gaia Villani
Gaia Villani is a junior communication education major who hopes to start her own audiology practice after graduation. She aims to follow in the footsteps of her friend and former senator from the College of Legislative Affairs and Communication Education.
“I was able to see firsthand the impact they had on the university and how they were trying to make Chico a better place by representing themselves by participating in AS,” Villani said. Told.
Villani, who has been a member of student government since childhood, assumed the leadership position just as people were returning to school in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I was president of my senior class in high school and basically ran the biggest events like prom and graduation. “People were looking for someone to restore the hope and normalcy that we had lost,” Villani said.
Villani continued to take a leadership role in Greek life, serving as vice president for alumni relations. Sigma Kappa In 2023.
“In that position, I manage an event made up of a large group of people who micromanage their time and focus on creating a fulfilling event for not only the chapter's alumni, but also its seniors and even its current members. It was a great experience,” Villani said.
Gaia aims to enrich not only the current generation of students, but also all graduates. She has great respect for all students who stand up to strengthen their communities.
“My leadership words have been to know that your hard work and dedication to your community, your university, and your school will serve you and leave a mark and a blueprint for tomorrow's generations,” Villani said. Ta. “I commend all the candidates who apply and run for Associated Students because they step up on such a large scale and find themselves as leaders of hundreds, if not thousands, of people. It takes a really special type of person to do that.”
Mr. Villani believes that taking a leap of faith is essential for students who want to participate in university life in the future. Regardless of your level of experience, it's worth putting yourself out there because you have the potential to succeed and turn your ideas into reality.Anyone with something can find leadership
“We all deserve the opportunity to be heard, so if you have a passion for leadership roles, find a role where you feel confident you can reach your full potential. Please,” Villani said. “Leadership is not just a big title like president or senator. You are a leader just like anyone else in any position.”
For information about Villani and her campaign, visit her Instagram page or here.
Malena Moreno
Malena Moreno is running for Senate in the College of Communication Education in the 2024 Associate Student General Election.
Moreno has been part of the Intercultural Leadership Center for about a year as a Cultural Programs Coordinator, which has allowed him to network with a variety of people, including international students, disadvantaged and privileged communities, and learn about the various resources available on the Internet. I was able to learn. campus.
As coordinator of cultural programs, Moreno said she helps create events for specific ethnic groups to ensure they are inclusive and welcoming to everyone.
Moreno also completed the diversity training that current senators receive, which he said will provide additional insight.
Moreno said she hopes to put the skills she learned while working at CCLC to good use and help people not be afraid to “encounter different cultures.”
Her major in communication science and her passion for disorders, as well as her love for Chico State University, are just some of the things that drive her to run, she said.
“I really love the community that I've found, and I really hope that people find their community within Chico State,” Moreno said.
She said she felt the need to promote herself by applying and running for the position. Moreno said her classmates and her co-workers motivated her and pushed her to run.
Although she loves her major and the resources available within it, there are some areas she would like to improve upon if elected to the Senate. These include finding more space and expanding the Student Success Center, as well as making it more inclusive and welcoming.
If elected, Moreno would like to expand the university itself by increasing the number of seminars in seven or eight different majors within the university and creating an incentive system for students to attend CME University events. There is.
She also wants to inform students about the free resources available throughout Chico State as well as at CME University so that students can get what they need and want even when they are outside of CME University. I am.
Moreno also wants international students to feel heard and safe.
“…I really want them to feel like they're part of the majors, because they're paying a lot of money,” Moreno said. “Maybe they're graduate students, but we want them to know, 'There's a community here, there's resources here that are paying for it.'”
Moreno, who will graduate this year and begin graduate school, said he recognizes the sacrifices required to serve in the Senate and is “really willing” to do so.
While at Chico State, Moreno said: Zeta Sigma Chi, multicultural sororities are a big part of her experience. She said the organization has helped her find community and allows her to put herself out there, despite her negative feelings that surface from time to time.
Learn more about Moreno on her Instagram page or here.
Learn more about the position of a senator in the College of Communication Education..
Voting for the 2024 AS General Election begins April 4 at 8 a.m. and ends April 5 at 8 a.m.
Once voting begins, a link will be sent to all Chico State University students via school email.
Ariana Powell and Ari Sorokin can be reached at: [email protected].