2023-2024 A.S. Candidate Information
Justin (Yen-Chi) Liu - Student Inclusion Slate
Hi there! My name is Justin (Yen-Chi) Liu, and I am hoping to have the honor to serve you as your A.S. President, along with the hands-on experiences, insights, soft/hard skills I obtained this year as the Director of Budget Management and the Student Government President from my previous four-year college. From overseeing the whole A.S. Budget to ensure we serve you, the students, in your best interests, chairing and attending multiple school committees to committing myself to advocate for student concerns and rights, I have witnessed how essential a well-developed student-support system is to a higher education institution when I walk into the Office of Student Life every day and am aimed to continue to further this community forward as a facilitator/liaison between the academy and the student body. Before SMC, I was a homeschooled student for nine years. I was fortunate to get the opportunity to grade-skip and eventually obtain a B.A. at seventeen. This might sound like a “shining” accomplishment; it, however, was not. It was a path that I had to crawl through. However, the obstacles I encountered set me off to an action-oriented mindset to foster a more inclusive community to nurture students’ wellness and well-being and ensure their success, support them when they need us, and let no one feel alone. As a student, I have suffered from academics. As a person, I have been through dark places. I feel you - we are all here to help one another to thrive.
Cecilia Jeong - What's Up SMC Slate
What’s up SMC?!! My name is Cecilia Jeong, and I’m running to be your Associated Students President. It’s my second year at SMC, and I serve our student body this year as the A.S. Director of Basic Needs. Some projects I've helped lead are Giving Thanksgiving and RSVP phone banking, the Bodega Rack Clothing Drive, and the A.S. endorsing of AB 610, a statewide bill supporting free public transit to students from kindergarten to grad school. I also worked as the A.S. Director of Publicity in Spring 2022 (you may remember Earth Day’s The Lorax Movie Screening), and am hoping to take my experience to bump your 2023-24 to the next level of engagement and student resources! My immigration journey to the U.S. had a lot of obstacles–financial and legal turmoil, becoming undocumented, moving out as a minor, and receiving a GED to work full-time while I was a part-time student at SMC. I found SMC once upon this yellow brick road, and am hoping to enhance our college experiences with you all. I envision next year’s A.S. to work towards more basic needs security, student-led events (with food), incorporation of satellite campuses, and publicity. As a student frequenting the Performing Arts Center, I’ve felt the disconnect satellite campuses have with events and resources on the main campus. SMC often has resources to support students…but great utilization starts with reaching out to the student body more proactively! Responsibly, Responsively. Yours Truly, Cecilia Jeong :)
Onni Huang - Student Inclusion Slate
Hey, everyone! I'm Onni Huang an international student running for the position of Director of Secretary (DoS) for our Associate Student Government. As your Secretary, I will be dedicated to ensuring that your voices are heard and that your ideas and concerns are addressed. For the past six months, I have served as the commissioner of the secretary, and I believe this experience has prepared me well for the position of director. If elected, I'll make sure that all important information related to our activities and meetings is well-documented and organized. I'm super organized and detail-oriented, so you can count on me to keep track of everything and make sure that nothing falls through the cracks. Also, to enhance communication between the student body and the student government, I shall put out an unrelenting effort. I'll actively look for student feedback and make sure it's considered when choices are made. To keep everyone informed, I will also provide regular updates on student government activities and decisions to keep everyone informed. Lastly, I will do my best to create a welcoming and enjoyable learning environment for all students from diverse cultural backgrounds. I am open to any ideas or recommendations you may have, and I am here to assist you in your success. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. I would be honored if you would consider voting for me. Thank you for your support!
Kwun Shek Fung
My name is Kwun Shek Fung, and I am running for the position of director of basic needs. As a transfer student, there is limited time I will be studying at SMC. Yet I still hope to contribute to SMC. I do not want to see myself only receiving an education here, I also hope I can create a better learning environment for all my schoolmates. As a past student at a Jesuit high school, I am deeply influenced by the quote “man for and with others.” The quote encourages me to think not only for myself but also to help others. I joined a program in my high school, aiming to mentor junior schoolmates and assist them. It was a valuable experience so now I am equipped with empathy toward people in need. Moreover, the director of basic needs is required to balance the interests of different stakeholders such as faculty, school, and students. Hence, effective communication skills are essential in this case. By being a part-time customer care representative before, I have developed excellent communication skills by coordinating with customers and my colleagues. I hope I can bring my passion and innovative ideas to address food insecurity and healthcare issues. The well-being of every student is always prioritized. It is a fundamental right to have a fair learning environment for every student to receive an education in SMC without any concerns in basic needs.
Ee Lin Tsen - Student Inclusion Slate
From stocking shelves to checking people in and greeting familiar faces, it has been a fulfilling experience serving fellow students as a student worker at SMC’s on-campus food pantry, the Bodega. I have been working there since Fall 2022 and have seen students walk in empty handed, but leave with a full bag of groceries to nourish themselves and their family members. Seeing the positive impact it has made has sparked a fire in me to run for the position of the Director of Basic Needs and I am eager to get involved with the logistical side of the Basic Needs team. As the Director of Basic Needs, I will be an avid voice and advocate for the wellbeing of students and ensure that everyone is getting the emotional, financial and basic support they need in order to succeed in their studies. Everyone has different life circumstances and when life throws unexpected hiccups along the way, these uncontrollable situations should not be the deteriorating factor of one's success. Asides from being students, at heart we are all humans who deserve to be heard, cared for and have our basic needs met. Mental health is just as if not more important than physical health and as someone who is a huge advocate for emotional wellbeing, I will work hard to ensure that the emotional well-being and needs of students are continually heard, improved and uplifted throughout the community.
Subin Kang - Student Inclusion Slate
Hello, everyone! My name is Subin Kang, who is running for the Director of Instructional Support. As a candidate for the instructional support position, I am enthusiastic about contributing my passion for education and expertise in providing administrative and technological assistance. In the past, I volunteered to teach elementary school students who struggled to comprehend certain concepts, and I have made efforts to provide academic support to my colleagues. Over time, my friends have consistently praised the positive results of my assistance, which has brought me a sense of satisfaction. Therefore, with my exceptional organizational skills, keen attention to detail, and excellent communication abilities, I am confident in collaborating with educators to create a dynamic and successful learning environment for students. My dedication to working closely with instructional staff ensures that students receive the support they need to achieve their academic goals. I am excited about the opportunity to impact the lives of students and educators positively.
Li Sheng Yang
Dear SMC students, My name is Li Sheng. As a student who is passionate about creating positive change and improving the overall experience of our school community, I believe that serving on the council will allow me to actively contribute to this mission. My main task as the director of instructional support would be to promote and encourage students who are facing basic needs security to take advantage of various free resources offered on campus. Such as Basic needs program, CARE act, CalWORKs, Guardian Scholars, Dream Program and many different more. As students, your aim should be on the academics instead of worrying about when is your next meal. Next my focus would be focusing on different minority groups on campus, and try to do our best as your advocates to cater to your needs, such as student with disability and etc, to offer various aids and opportunities to try and relief them of any limit or boundaries in their academic endeavors And lastly would be listening to YOU. Each and everyone of you matters and your voices need to be heard. I would like to create a forum where we as your advocates can listen and try out best to meet your needs and learn how to better improve the already existing resources such as supplemental instruction or even technical infrastructures to aid your academic pursuit If elected to the student council, I will work tirelessly to ensure that the voices of all students are heard and that their needs and concerns are addressed. I will strive to foster a positive and inclusive environment on campus, where students feel safe, valued, and supported throughout their journey at SMC.
Ling-Hsuan Huang (Doris Huang)
Hello everyone, my name is Doris, I'm an international student from Taiwan, and I've been at SMC for 2 semesters now. As an international student, I came here on my own and housing, managing a budget, exploring a new life, and learning about available resources, etc. were all big issues to face in addition to studying. I need to do a lot of research and asking many different people/departments to collect information. I understand that to build a new life is not easy, so I want to do my best to share and help other students who needs assistance in different aspects of their lives. I'm here to listen and help!
Phanphasa Parinyasrisawet - Student Inclusion Slate
I believe that every human is born with the same rights and has the same quality regardless of who they are and where they come from. From studying at SMC for over two years, I have known people from many different backgrounds, which inspired me a lot to create a diverse environment where we all have equal equity. I would love to promote events like an international day where students and faculty can express their culture and ethnicity. Moreover, I am aiming to build a space where people from the same backgrounds can get in touch with each other to make them feel like home. As well as encouraging everyone to live and learn together as a global citizens.
Esmeralda Hernandez - Student Inclusion Slate
My name is Esmeralda Hernandez and I am running for your DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. I feel privileged to attend Santa Monica College to further my education as a first-generation student with parents who are immigrants. I'm in Santa Monica to pursue a higher education with the intention of transferring after earning my AA, like many of you. I hope to strengthen the sense of community among like-minded students in my capacity as your Director of External Affairs. I want to build a community of like-minded students who want to accomplish their objective, which is what so many students are here for.
Lina Fuellemann
I am honored to announce my candidacy for the position of the Director of Publicity in the next A.S. election. I am thrilled about the opportunity to advocate for your needs and interests since I am committed to making college life for us students as memorable as possible. My experience as a commissioner of the current Director of Publicity has taught me the different skills of promoting the college, as well as engaging within its community. My goal is to bring these abilities to the role of the upcoming Director of Publicity, to ensure that the A.S. is well-represented and student opinions are heard. If elected, my top priority will be to serve as a direct communication liaison between the A.S. and you students, as well as to properly introduce you to all of the incredible events and activities that SMC has to offer. Moreover, I consider myself to be someone with a great interest in current trends in public relations, marketing, and social media. As an architecture major, I frequently require creative and strategic thinking, which can be rewarding skills for the publicity department. In addition, I am willing to devote myself to leadership opportunities and raising student awareness. As a part of SMC’s student government, it is important to share the school’s mission, values, and accomplishments effectively. I am committed to making a positive contribution to our student community as the Director of Publicity of the A.S. Club, and I hope to earn your trust and support in the upcoming election.
Lia Chung - Student Inclusion Slate
Hello everyone. My name is Lia Chung, an international student from South Korea who is running for Publicity. I'm currently a freshman majoring in Digital Media at SMC. Throughout my life, all my experiences included "Media." I used to work on design, edits, and all the art. I have undoubtedly prepared myself for this role, and I feel I do have the potential creativity to show my design to you. In today's world, social media has become an essential tool for effective communication and community building. As a Director of Publicity, and as a person who loves to communicate with people and be outgoing, I wanted to learn new cultures, meet new friends, and have fun in my college life. And I thought being an AS member would be perfect for me. What I really wanted and loved about SMC is it is "international" and "global." As we all know, SMC has so many diverse students from many countries. I felt accepted and felt part of the community. So I want to share those feelings with students. And It is crucial that we understand the importance of utilizing these platforms to connect with our audience. As my perspective of leadership is being able to inspire people, encourage them, connect with them, respect them, and, of course, set an example for them is how I define leadership. A leader needs to be honest with themselves about who they are, what they know, and what they can do. I believe a good leader should have the desire, willpower, and trust to be able lead others in the right direction. However, leadership is figuring out how to best develop the potential of others and motivating them to achieve more and realize their potential. That said, I will take my position seriously, be respectful, be responsible for every moment, and hear your voices carefully. I do not doubt that my experience and dedication will serve you well in your future endeavors.
Elliot Organ
My name is Elliot Organ, and I am a student worker in Recycling and Sustainability. My passion for the environment is driven by a past career in organic farming. As A.S. Director of Sustainability, my goals are to incentivize environmentally-friendly consumption on campus, educate the student body (and faculty) on effective and practical ways to reduce our waste, increase our on-campus vermiculture compost production from 150lbs per week to 800lbs per week by diverting green waste from landfill waste, promote green events, and petition SMC’s board to divest our multi-million dollar endowment fund from fossil fuels. My interests are law, economics, and academics. I am invested in creating a voice for the voiceless. My hobbies are surfing, biking, my dog Bagel, and I am also attempting to build a biogas generation system to produce renewable energy from dog waste.
Alyssa Arreola - What's Up SMC Slate
Hello everyone! My name is Alyssa Arreola and I am your current A.S. Vice President for the 2022-2023 school year! I have loved the challenges and opportunities that come with being involved in our student government and wish to take on a new approach as Student Trustee. As a Nursing major, I hope to allow students from all majors to feel comfortable to put yourself out there and take the chance of a lifetime. Although life may not always be easy, you can always count on me to support you in any way you may need. Alongside my experience with the A.S. board, I have also been involved in numerous clubs on campus as both a board member and a club member so I know how it is being on both sides. I hope that you all will grant me another opportunity to represent the student body in the way I know best, by listening! Here's to another great year here at SMC!