The University of California announced its nominee for 2004-2005
student regent on Monday, and a Bruin got the nod.
Jodi Anderson is in her second year of doctoral studies pursuing
a degree in higher education and is a student researcher at the
UCLA Higher Education Research Institute.
Anderson, who hails from Fresno and earned her bachelor of arts
degree from UC Santa Barbara in 1994, is a first-generation college
student.
She has two masters degrees, one in education from UCLA and one
in social policy from the University of Nottingham, England.
Students involved in the nominating process cited her background
in educational studies as among Anderson’s strong points.
“She has a keen understanding of the university and its
complexity,” said current student regent Dexter
Ligot-Gordon.
“The breadth of issues she has researched is …
astounding,” said Stephen Klass, UC Students Association
chair.
Anderson’s studies focus on issues surrounding higher
education, and her lengthy experience with the UC includes not only
time as a student but also as a staff member.
As an admissions officer at UCSB, Anderson traveled the state
working as a counselor to prospective students and their
parents.
At UCSB, Anderson was involved in the university’s
outreach programs, and she wants to continue her work with outreach
in her position with the regents.
“I think that (outreach is) one of the areas I want to
really be focused on,” she said.
As student regent, Anderson would serve as the sole UC student
out of over 170,000 able to vote on student fees, admissions
policies, and other issues affecting the entire UC community.
She will also have a lot of work to do between board meetings
and votes.
“From my experience, a successful student regent …
dedicates their strength, energy and time for this position,”
Ligot-Gordon said.
Student regents are expected to look out for the
university’s broad interests, rather than simply serve as a
conduit for student views ““ Anderson summarized the role as
being a “student who is a regent.”
However, her status as a student and a researcher allows her to
approach issues somewhat differently from other board members, who
are often business leaders.
A student regent can take on an issue by “starting from
the point of having a student perspective,” Anderson
said.
Her academic work also gives her the opportunity to contribute
to the board’s discussions by “drawing upon research
that is specific to the UC,” she added.
Though serving as student regent will add more duties to her
busy schedule, Anderson said she can still enjoy spending her free
time at local attractions, like the beach and watching films.
“I try to take advantage of what L.A. has to offer,”
she said.
Anderson, who if approved will be the 30th UC student to sit on
the board, would be the second education student from UCLA to serve
as student regent. Tracy Davis, also pursuing a doctoral degree,
served during 2001-2002.
Davis is the seventh consecutive student regent enrolled at UCLA
or UC Berkeley. Both Ligot-Gordon and next year’s student
regent Matt Murray are undergraduates at Berkeley.
While Murray serves as student regent, Anderson will attend
regents meetings as student regent-designate, and will participate
in debates though she will not be able to vote.