RAMIREZ GOMEZ & GLEZER

NEXT YEAR'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECT

WRITTEN BY MACKENZIE CHRISTIE

DESIGNED BY ALLYSON LYNDAKER

Things are looking bright for the 20232024 academic year as we welcome in our new Student Body President Moises Ramirez Gomes and Vice President Ashely Glezer. Ramirez Gomez, a junior International Business major with a Music minor, and Glezer, a junior International Business and Marketing double major, have big plans as they embark on their final year at Messiah.

Both Ramirez Gomez and Glezer reveal that running for their respective positions was not initially on their radar, but the opportunity presented itself nonetheless.

“Throughout my time here at Messiah, I've had the privilege of serving in different scopes and seeing different perspectives, and through that, certain individuals whom I look up to asked me ‘Hey, have you considered running for president?’” Ramirez Gomez said.

“The truth is, I didn’t until they brought it to my attention, but because of that, I realized it was an opportunity that I wanted to go for. That’s when I asked Ashely to run with me.” Glezer seconded his notion, adding that a large part of her motivations to run alongside Ramirez Gomez were to foster a love of leadership and engagement amongst the rest of the student body.

“As a student at Messiah coming in during COVID, then navigating that different world and seeing Messiah flourish out of that environment, I saw the need for students to feel educated about leadership on campus through SGA,” Glezer said. “Being involved with leadership and seeing how important that is, I want to bring those opportunities that Messiah offers to everyone.”

As the pair prepared to begin their campaign, they identified one singular word that the rest of their work would fall under: devotion.

“Our whole campaign fell under the word of devotion, and that is the idea of being devoted to one another in love and action. Under that comes three specific words; to reconnect, refocus, and revive. This is just the idea of reconnecting SGA back to the student body,” Ramirez Gomez said.

“Along those lines of engagement, our campaign was less about what we want to specifically change about Messiah, and more so what we want to bring awareness to. There’s so much that SGA and Messiah as a whole have to offer, but so few people know about our resources and who they can talk to,” Glezer said.

Ramirez Gomez mentions that the team’s desire to connect with the student body in a more personal way was a core component of their campaign process, as well as their goals for next year.

“The reason why I asked Ashley to be my VP is because she has been one of my closest friends since freshman year, and what we want to bring to the table is the idea of being that friend and a listening ear to all the individuals on campus,” Ramirez Gomez said.

“We connected on that immediately, and we started talking right away about how we could pursue that goal.”

Of course, as the duo prepare to assume their new positions, there will always remain elements of uncertainty and challenges on the road ahead.

“It is a big position, and if anything there still remains this fear of not being good enough, because you are representing the whole student body,” Glezer said. “I’m so excited and honored to be elected as a voice for Messiah’s population, but also humbled to know that there are so many voices out there, and I just need to fulfill this role to the best of my ability.”

“My biggest fear is the idea that I am a representative of the Messiah community, not just myself and my organization, the idea of making sure that I represent Messiah to its fullest potential,” Ramirez Gomez said.

“Additionally you lose the chance to make a first impression with people as an individual, because everyone will already know your name. That made me scared at first, but at the end of the day my desire and goal is to serve the community, and that is what I have to strive for no matter what.”

Aside from the challenges that these roles will present, both Ramirez Gomez and Glezer have hearts full of excitement and passion for the new responsibilities they are about to embrace.

“I love just talking to people and meeting people, and I think this opportunity I’m going to have to meet new students and learn how I can best serve them, and how we can foster that space where they feel like they are being seen and cared for,” Ramirez Gomez said.

“I’m so excited about the opportunity to represent the student body as a friend…we’re both very extroverted and involved people, and I don’t expect anything to change about that once we step into these positions,” Glezer said. “I’m excited to empower everyone on campus to advocate for what they need, and most importantly we want to build Messiah up to the best it can be through the commitments we are making together.”