1. Executive Unity

The role of the President is to create a strong executive that works together to accomplish a set of goals, with individual portfolios contributing their own pieces. I fully believe that the President should not have a long list of policy goals going into this job. This better allows them to support their team and work collaboratively to set priorities. They need to think big picture. This is how things are best accomplished, as a team.

I excel in the facilitation and creation of high functioning teams. This is what the AMS needs right now, a strong leader with experience in creating a unified voice and vision.

2. Communication

I don’t believe in student apathy (You are welcome to fight me on this point). I have never bet a truly apathetic student, but what I have met are students that don’t know what the AMS is or why it should matter to them. All students care about the communities they are a part of , but most students don’t consider the AMS their community- either because they don’t know what it is or does or because they don’t know why it is valuable.

To create relevancy and student engagement, the AMS needs to better communicate, both internally and externally. They need to be open and honest with the students and reach out to them for their opinions, earlier rather than later. Even student leaders on campus, those who are making amazing change in other areas of campus, don’t engage with the AMS. The AMS needs to better use social media, create arenas for dialogue, and work to engage the student population.

I will create dialogue amongst students over issues, be proactive in communicating challenges rather than reactionary, and ensure that all AMS information is accessible, well organized, and effectively distributed.

3. Ownership

Working for AMS Firstweek and coordinating the last Yes campaign, it’s really challenging to step into a role in the AMS because you don’t feel like you are a part of an organization. You work on your individual role and the people in the offices next to you do theirs. Often you aren’t sure exactly what that entails or who you are supposed to ask for help when you have a question.

To improve all the pieces of the AMS, from the services to committees to full time staff, you have to create a sense of greater AMS ownership. This comes with better staff training and support, more detailed job descriptions and transition reports, and small things like encouraging open door policies.