The Student Association has hired two new employees after the resignation of two cabinet members last week.
Senior public relations and graphic design major Brooklyn Engelhart, former Strawberry Festival director, and senior biology major Andrew Cuevas, former Executive Secretary, stepped down from their respective positions.
Senior film production major Sierra Wendt was hired as the new director of the Strawberry Festival.
“I decided to accept the job because I am passionate about film and Southern,” Wendt said. “This is my last semester here and I want to leave a positive impact with every day I have left. I expect of leadership because everyone involved is looking out for the good of this event and long standing tradition.”
Senior nursing major Laura Chase relinquished her role as SA Parliamentarian, a role now filled by senior English major Sierra Emilaire, to become Executive Secretary.
“I believe my skills match the Executive Secretary role better than the Parliamentarian role. The roles are very different,” Chase said. “Parliamentarian is a very ‘let’s get business done’ role. The Executive Secretary role is more of a let’s find better, more creative ways to get things done. I enjoy the creativity it allows.”
Emilaire said that she is looking forward to the new leadership opportunity on the SA Senate.
“I accepted the position because it seemed like a smooth transition from senator to parliamentarian,” she said. “I will hopefully encourage senators to come up with projects that will benefit the student body. i have a lot of ideas and now I’m in an official position to share those ideas.
These mid-year resignations are the first on SA since the 2015-16 school year.
“Resignations for personal reasons do occur occasionally in the Student Association,” said Dennis Negron, vice president of student development. “These resignations were not the first ones I’ve had to deal with in my short time as vice president. All of them have a common denominator: the resignations were made because of what the students thought was best for them at that moment.”
According to Engelhart, despite being not being on the team, she wishes the best to those still working on the end-of-the-year production.
“I was asked to resign from Strawberry Festival, and with a heavy heart I did,” she said. “I’m sad to leave my amazing team and hope the best for them.”
Cuevas holds similar sentiments.
“I’m sad to leave SA, but SA is a body that does not depend on one individual,” Cuevas said. “It can and will continue to do great things. With that, I’m positive and optimistic that they’ll continue to do great things things for this campus. I look forward to what they bring to campus.”