LSUA Student Government Vice President Malinda Holloway (left) and I are planning activities and initiatives for the upcoming year. Our goal is to be more proactive on higher education legislation and solutions to poverty.

Visiting with Mr. and Mrs. Mark Brown (left and right), who established and fund the Mary Jane Brown Memorial scholarship. I was awarded the scholarship in 2005 and will continue to receive it for the duration of my undergraduate studies. The scholarship is in honor of Mr. Brown's mother, a retired care giver, who always stressed the importance of higher education.

Sitting in the lobby of the LSU System office just before being sworn in as a board member. I am the first non traditional student and african-american female to be elected to this position. This was the first time in twenty years (since 1986) that a LSUA Student Government President has been elected to this position.

Sitting in front of the James C. Bolton library at LSU at Alexandria after having been elected by my fellow LSU System Student Body Presidents to represent them on the LSU System Board of Supervisors. In order to be elected to serve on the board a Student Body president must receive the majority of votes cast in a system election. I had two opponents, the LSU Law Center Student Bar Association President and the UNO Student Body President. I was elected to the board by a 6 to 2 vote.

At desk in the Student Government office just before an Executive Board meeting. I have been committed to creating future leaders. I facilitated my philosphy by creating ad-hoc committees and appointing Senators to serve on them. In this way, all officers felt valued and a sense of belonging and ownership. The productivity of officers increased significantly. Some of them are currently preparing to run in the Student Government elections to continue their role as student leaders .

Visiting with Honorable Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (right) while she was in Alexandria to meet with city councilmen and community leaders about the recent location of the Union Tank Car company to the area.

Discussing higher education affordability and accessibility deficits and the need for a comprehensive need-based financial aid program in the state of Louisiana. I shared the platform with Honorable Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (right), LSU System President William Jenkins (left), and UL System President Sally Clausen (right rear).