Now in its second year, the President’s Student Advisory Council has begun meeting with President Dennis Assanis and other administrators to offer their views and recommendations on a variety of topics that are important to the University of Delaware experience.

President’s Student Advisory Council begins second year

Article by Mike Chalmers Photos by Kathy F. Atkinson October 23, 2023

Panel to explore civil discourse issues in fall semester

The council is composed of 13 undergraduates and four graduate students, including the presidents of the Student Government Association and Graduate Student Government. Through an application and interview process, members were selected last spring from about 60 students who had been nominated by various leaders at UD.

“This is an engaged, accomplished group of students representing every portion of the University. My wife, Eleni, and I are looking forward to hearing their perspectives and insights about the issues that matter to them,” Assanis said. “Together, we can work to improve our campus community for everyone at UD.”

The council will meet regularly to provide their input and feedback on multiple student-centered topics, including the University’s accomplishments and its challenges. Through meaningful dialogue, workable recommendations will be developed to address students’ concerns. For the fall semester, the council is exploring the topic of civil discourse.

“Civil discourse has long been a value at UD, and I believe it can be emblematic of the UD community,” said José-Luis Riera, vice president of student life. “President Assanis has a vision that every student will graduate with strong skills in civil discourse, so we are excited for the council to come up with creative ideas to elevate the learning and engagement of civil discourse for all Blue Hens.”

Student Aretha Korsah speaks at the President's Student Advisory Council meeting.

The council is composed of 13 undergraduates and four graduate students, including the presidents of the Student Government Association and Graduate Student Government.

The council’s first meeting on Sept. 19 featured a presentation by Timothy Shaffer, director of the SNF Ithaca Initiative at UD, which is focused on the teaching and practice of civil discourse in society.

“Civil discourse can be difficult because we all have strong opinions that we want to defend, but we can learn to improve our dialogue skills and build a culture of civil discourse here on campus,” Shaffer said. “Working with the President’s Student Advisory Council on this topic provides a great opportunity to advance this work with our student leaders.”

Created in the 2022-23 academic year, the inaugural council addressed several topics, including diversity, sustainability, free speech and campus safety.

In the spring, a nomination and application process will open to identify members of the 2024-25 council.

The members of the 2023-24 President’s Student Advisory Council are:

Undergraduate students

Fanta Barry — Bear, Delaware; Lerner College of Business and Economics
Alyssa Brown — Syracuse, New York; College of Health Sciences
Zion Buchanan — Wilmington, Delaware; Biden School of Public Policy and Administration
Madison (Madi) Drew — Georgia, Vermont; College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Honors College
Luke Gibbons — Dumont, New Jersey; Lerner College of Business and Economics
Gabriella Gooden — Montgomery, New York; College of Arts and Sciences
Isabella Haigney — Macungie, Pennsylvania; College of Arts and Sciences and Honors College
Julia Hatoum — Hockessin, Delaware; College of Engineering and Honors College; President of the Student Government Association
Miles Inter-Combs — Dover, Delaware; Lerner College of Business and Economics
Aretha Korsah — Middletown, Delaware; College of Arts and Sciences
Meghan Rogers — Lakewood, Ohio; College of Arts and Sciences
Fryda Ruiz-Torres — Wilmington, Delaware; College of Education and Human Development
Derek Wu — Sparks Glencoe, Maryland; College of Arts and Sciences, College of Earth, Ocean and Environment and Honors College

Graduate students

Julie Elliott — Denton, Texas; Biden School of Public Policy and Administration
Minji Kong — South Korea and Delaware; College of Engineering

Alan Parkes — Fredericksburg, Virginia; College of Arts and Sciences; President of the Graduate Student Government
Eric Sterin — Cleveland, Ohio; College of Engineering

Student Miles Inter-Combs speaks at the President's Student Advisory Council meeting.

Through an application and interview process, members were selected last spring from about 60 students who had been nominated by various leaders at UD.