Hello everyone,

I’m George, and I am thrilled to announce that I will be running to be your next VP of Academic Affairs of MSC!

As I enter my fourth year at Macaulay, I’ve had the unique perspective of connecting with the student body through meaningful conversations and true investment in their growth, not just as students but as leaders in their own right. I’m one of the few students on this council who has been through all facets of Macaulay life, whether that be MSC E-Board as the VP of Finance, Co-Chair of the Macaulay Olympics, President of a Macaulay Student Club (shoutout Pre-Law), or my involvement with the Collaborative Wellness Project – one of many Macaulay special initiatives. I’ve also been a part of both the Student Life and Academic Affairs committees – groups that have allowed me to learn more about our student community and academic needs. I am well-versed in the needs and requests of the Macaulay community. I look forward to taking on the role of VP of Academic Affairs to ensure this council and student community maintains the vigor and spirit that have defined Macaulay for the past 25 years.

As a student leader and professional in my own capacity, I understand that the status quo can seem like an easy, reliable route that produces results we can all somewhat agree on. Many of us cannot deny the increasing fragmentation within MSC into informal groups that, while naturally formed, have limited cross-collaboration and reduced meaningful collaboration, especially when left unchecked. But rather than settle, I intend to push the needle of what our student government can do to ensure that each of us is equipped with the tools to become the leaders we all were elected to be, and to become a group of friends rather than colleagues. In the coming year, I am eager to actually put into practice ideas that would help sustain our governing body to be more effective and efficient:

– Set up meetings and communication channels between MSC and the administrators behind the new spaces at John Jay ahead of the Macaulay Central renovations, ensuring transparency and sufficient space for the student body and our Student Life committee to continue hosting our students.

– Ensure Friedman Transfer Scholars are identified and connected with MSC to ensure proper integration into our student body through Friedman Transfer Scholar events + explore greater representation of the unique scholar program within our student government.

– Make College Council more accessible to MSC as a means to connect with administration, rather than “just another event requirement” through both committee and larger council involvement.

– Work with Dean Byrne and the rest of the deans to speak with MSC more often at our meetings to familiarize her with the amazing work we are doing within Macaulay Central and at our own campuses, rather than a single fireside chat.

– Directly connect campus directors with each year’s MSC members to host town halls at the start of the year to make sure each cohort is adequately represented and acknowledged amongst campus-specific administration and peers.

Enough of what I have done or will do – you all know how these politicized statements go. What I do want to say is this: I know how important tradition is to this community. I co-chaired the Olympics this year out of dissatisfaction with how hard work has become a deterrent for many from taking the lead on this hefty endeavor. From the late-night Zoom planning sessions to the hundreds of emails that I sent, the entire planning committee understood this as a labor of love. I owed it to the Macaulay community to continue a tradition that meant putting in the hard work to make things happen. And as Vice President of Academic Affairs, I intend to work even harder to ensure that even the most ambitious ideas can become reality.

With love,
George