Last September, former Emporia State president Allison Garret resigned to become the ninth chancellor and chief executive officer for the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education. In November, Ken Hush was named Interim President, while the search for a new president began. 

While ESU begins to look for a new university president, Lauren Moon, vice president of Associated Student Government (ASG) and junior biology and secondary education major, believes the board appointing the new president should heavily consider the desires and goals of the student body and allow them to be involved in any way possible. Moon suggested having the board work with ASG to select a new president so the students can have as much say as possible.

One thing that seems to be agreed on by some individual students and leaders is that they want a president that is active in the community and active with the students.

“I would like the new president to be involved in the community and on campus,” said Abby Allen, senior English language education major. “Be out and about when he or she can and get to know the students. I think that’s the best part, building those relationships are incredible.” 

Paige Frye, president of the Politics and Law Club and senior political science major, would like the new president to “pull the community together” through clubs and organizations.

“There are very few (students) who are deeply involved, the rest are sort of passively involved and that makes for a really weak community section. It creates a lot of apathy and I think with the right leader we can really develop a better sense of community, not just for the clubs, but connect Emporia State to Emporia.”

Along with this, Moon stated she’d like to see a president that reflects the diversity of the campus and who is more cognizant of the impact mental health has on the student body and faculty.

“Having someone who knows that mental health is an important thing to focus on,” Moon said. “Especially nowadays with everything going on around the world. So, I think it would be great for someone who is cognizant of that.”

Moon explained that a goal she’d like to see the president push for is more funding and resources towards the Student Wellness Center. With more money and resources in the wellness center, there is more distribution of the workload and fewer chances of over extending themselves throughout the faculty and staff.

Kellee Banks, resident advisor and sophomore business administration major, expressed that she’d like to see better parking and more spaces for Recognized Student Organizations (RSO).

 “I’d like to see better parking on campus for not just on campus students but especially for the off-campus students,” Banks said. “We can do better and grow. Like creating more spaces made for RSOs”