Jordan Gonzales
president of Sigma Phi Epsilon, 308.631.8591
Student government executive branch members at the University of Nebraska at Kearney have been announced by UNK Student Body President Jordan Gonzales of Morrill.
The board members, who will serve in these positions now through April of 2012, were selected by Gonzales and Student Body Vice President Paloma Mena-Werth of Kearney. Students applied for the various positions.
“Most of these individuals were asked by Paloma and me to apply for the positions, because of their level of involvement both inside and outside of the classroom,” Gonzales said.
In addition to the traditional staff positions, Gonzales has created three new staff positions to serve under him. The new positions include director of policy and counsel to the president (two appointees to this position), director of external affairs and communications, and director of internal affairs, logistics and special projects.
“The four students were selected after an extensive and thorough interview/evaluation process,” Gonzales said. “The purpose of the office of the president staff is to successfully understand, construct and administer the policies and proposals of the president and vice president.”
Ellen Thomas of Omaha was named a director of policy and counsel to the president. As the director of policy and counsel to the president, Thomas is the chief policy adviser regarding the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, and is in charge of analyzing and distributing materials dealing with the board. Thomas, an elementary education major, has served as judicial chairwoman for Gamma Phi Beta sorority, a Summer Advising and Enrollment (SAE) leader, has been a member of Loper Liaisons and the UNK soccer team.
Jordan Moncrief of Kearney will also serve as a director of policy and counsel to the president. Moncrief is the policy adviser to the president regarding the UNK student body and in achieving the goals set by the president. An exercise science major with a minor in chemistry, Moncrief was the vice president of scholarship for Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, vice president of recruitment for the Interfraternity Council, secretary for the Health Science Club, has been involved with Loper Liaisons, Phi Eta Sigma national honor society and the Honors Program. Moncrief, an Omaha World-Herald/Kearney Hub Scholarship recipient, was a University of Nebraska Medical Center Scholars’ Day nominee.
Brett Miller of Chambers was named director of external affairs and communications. In this position, Miller will serve as the chief communications officer and spokesperson for Gonzales. Miller will also manage the Student Government webpage. A broadcasting major with a minor in multimedia, Miller has been involved in the Honors Program, Thompson Scholar Learning Community, Student Envoys, Students in Mass Media (SIMM) and was Web director for the campus radio station KLPR, president of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, and coordinator for the Chancellor’s Ambassadors.
Kevin Hall of Campbell will serve as the director of internal affairs, logistics and special projects. He will be the personal aide to the president, and is in charge of planning and carrying out special events and projects hosted by the president. In addition, Hall will oversee the general operations of the office of the president. Hall is a business administration major with an emphasis in finance. He was the vice president of finance for Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and is involved with the Phi Eta Sigma national honor society.
Chief of staff, secretary of the treasury, secretary of student organizations and affairs, and secretary of community relations are all traditional presidential cabinet level positions.
“These positions are enumerated by the Constitution of the Associated Students of the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and are appointed by the president and confirmed with a two-thirds vote by the Student Senate,” Gonzales said.
Megan Faust of Petersburg was named chief of staff. As chief of staff, Faust will assist Gonzales with policy matters regarding the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. In addition, she will be involved in campaigns aimed to promote outreach and interaction with UNK students. Faust is a comprehensive business administration major with an emphasis in management. Her current and past memberships include Mortar Board senior honor society, the Honors Program, the International Business Honor Society of Beta Gamma Sigma, Gold Torch Society, Phi Eta Sigma national honor society, coordinator for the Campus Kitchen Project, deputy election commissioner for the Student Government Election Commission and the Society for Human Resource Management. She was awarded the Outstanding Junior award from the UNK Department of Management, the William R. Nester Leadership Award and is a Dean’s List student.
Ryan Grossnicklaus of Aurora will serve as secretary of the treasury. He will be the chief financial officer for Student Government and administer the University Programming and Facility Fees (UPFF) fund. Grossnicklaus, a business administration major with a double emphasis in accounting and finance, has served as the president of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, treasurer of the Mortar Board senior honor society, a Chancellor’s Ambassador, was a member of Loper Liaisons, UNK Varsity Golf Team, the Honors Program and the Accounting and Finance Society of Beta Alpha Psi. He was named Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity New Member of the Year in 2010 and Member of the Year in 2011, was named honorable mention to the 2011 All-RMAC Academic team, inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, received the 2010 Order of Omega Outstanding Emerging Leader of the Year award and is a Dean’s List student.
Cameron Deter of Red Oak, Iowa, was named secretary of student organizations and affairs. In this position, Deter is responsible for relationships between student organizations and the student government. Deter, who is an industrial distribution major, has served as a student senator for the College of Business and Technology, was a Summer Advising and Enrollment (SAE) leader, Student Diplomat, vice president for Delta Tau Delta fraternity and a member of Interfraternity Council. He currently serves on the Leadership Team for the Industrial Distribution Organization.
Alicia Titus of Aurora will serve as secretary of community relations. This will be Titus’ second consecutive term in this position. As secretary of community relations, Titus serves as the president’s official ambassador to the City of Kearney and the surrounding community, and represents the students of the UNK. The department of the secretary of community relations is responsible for planning and carrying out the Big Event, the largest community service program at UNK. Titus is a mathematics and business administration major with a minor in finance. She has been involved in Chancellor’s Ambassadors, Student Diplomats, Academic Peer Tutors, vice president of Math Club, vice president of recruitment for Loper Liaisons and secretary of Kappa Mu Epsilon. Titus is a Dean’s List student.
