A University of California Board of Regents’ special committee has nominated Sadia Saifuddin, a UC Berkeley student majoring in social welfare, as the 2014–15 student regent.
The regents will vote on the recommendation during their July meeting. If approved, Saifuddin would become the 40th student regent since the position was established in 1975. She then would serve as student regent-designate for the coming year, able to participate in all deliberations. She would not have voting privileges, however, until her one-year term begins in July 2014.
“I see myself as an advocate for students,” Saifuddin said. “The university is facing difficult problems and there are many creative solutions to explore. I want to ensure that student voices are heard in all of these conversations that impact them now and in the future.”
Saifuddin, who will enter her senior year at UC Berkeley this fall, has been active in the Associated Students of the University of California as a senator and chair of its finance committee. She also is the founder and coordinator of UNITE, a UC systemwide student steering committee focusing on campus climate.
“I’m looking forward to learning about different students and their struggles, having conversations with them and doing the best I can to help,” she said. “I’m in a very privileged position in that I’m able to give back and make sure that the people who come after me have the same opportunities I had.”
The student regent for 2013–14 is Cinthia Flores, a law student from UC Irvine.
Saifuddin’s nominating committee included regents Bonnie Reiss (chair), Eddie Island, George Kieffer, Ronald Rubenstein and Jonathan Stein. The policy on the appointment of the student regent is available at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/regents/studentreg.html.
This year, 30 students from nine UC campuses applied for the position. In accordance with its policy, the regents’ committee interviewed three finalists after the UC Student Association interviewed 10 semifinalists.
Saifuddin can be reached at saif.sadia10@gmail.com.