Galvanized and motivated: Our 2024-25 SGA officers
November 13, 2024
Photo by Scott Gerdes
The UNM-Taos 2024-25 SGA Officers Induction Ceremony was held on Nov. 12 at Klauer campus. Front L-R: President Ashlynn Vigil, Sen. Jesyka Pacheco, Sen. Marteen Vigil, Secretary Yoly Alvarado, and Vice President Alan Hernandez. Back row: Sen. Deazia Cardenas, Sen. Chloe Matthews, and Treasurer Juan Carlos Rodriguez. Not pictured, Sen. Aubrey Cheatham.
Student governments advocate for the student body’s needs and concerns and work to ensure that student perspectives are heard. That’s just what your newly sworn-in Student Government Association (SGA) officers intend to do.
On the morning of Nov. 12, surrounded by family and staff, eight UNM-Taos students took an oath of office in Padre Martinez Hall led by Chancellor Mary Gutierrez and Student Activities Specialist/SGA Staff Advisor Jonathan Piper. With smiles on their faces and missions on their minds, elected officials President Ashlynn Vigil; Vice President Alan Hernandez-Dominguez; Secretary Yoly Alvarado; Treasurer Juan Carlos Rodriguez; and Senators Chloe Matthews, Jesyka Pacheco, Marteen Vigil, Aubrey Cheatham, and Deazia Cardenas get ready to make their mark on the campus and in students’ lives.
Meet your 2024-25 SGA
Making an impact is front and center for Pres. Vigil. She said the experience will be “positive, fun, and empowering.” She is a First-Generation student studying Early Childhood Education.
VP Hernandez-Dominguez looks forward to making connections and being a voice for students. He aspires to enter the Nursing program to become an RN.
Treasurer Rodriguez is no stranger to SGA. He served as secretary last year and is currently the treasurer for the Student Nurse Association. His steady involvement stems from “an interest in politics.”
Pre-Science student and Secretary Alvarado joined SGA to “help fellow students reach their full potential.” She plans to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
A sophomore, Sen. Pacheco is also driven to make life better for others. “I like helping students,” she said. “I love our little UNM-Taos community.” Her personal goal is to be a small business owner.
Another nursing student in SGA is Sen. Matthews who joined “to be more involved” and fellow Level 3 Nursing student Sen. Cardenas got in the race to “fight for students.”
Advocating for his peers is also the motivation that convinced tutor Sen. Vigil to join SGA this term. He is united with the other Level 3 Nursing student officers who will serve over 2024-25.
Sen. Cheatham was not able to attend the ceremony. She is a yoga instructor working on getting a certificate in Holistic Health and Healing Arts alongside an associate degree in Fine Arts. Her driving force is to make an impact on personal health and wellness.
After thanking the officers for taking on these vital roles for our school, Chancellor Gutierrez expressed the importance of being UNM-Taos ambassadors in the Taos community, their campus leadership, the improvements they can spearhead for the Klauer and downtown campuses, and the difference they can make in students’ lives. She told them, “You will have a unique impact on campus.”
