Colleges

Leadership Highlight: Coppin State University’s SGA President Crystal Chukwu

In an effort to highlight the people who are leading graduate universities across the nation, we at Watch The Yard reached out to Coppin State University and did an interview with Crystal Chukwu the Student Government Association president.

The position of SGA president of a is a highly respected role and there is a special pride that one takes. Chukwu, who is majoring in Biology, is a current senior.

We interviewed Chukwu, and talked to her about her position, goals, future and what it means to hold this type of leadership position in 2020.

Read the full interview below.

What is the biggest thing you’ve learned as an SGA president so far?

There’s so much that I’ve learned while being in this position but the most important thing for me would be that patience is key. You may feel really anxious about getting crucial things done for the student body but I know that if you are not diligent with your work then it may not fall through how you planned.

What made you decide to attend Coppin State University for undergrad?

My brother was the one who introduced me to Coppin State. I didn’t rally know of the school but when my brother told me about how much he enjoyed being there, I just knew I had to apply. It was close, affordable, and the campus life was pretty good too. I immediately fell in love with the school, the more involved I got on campus.

How has Coppin State University molded you into the person you are today?

Coppin State University has provided me with an amazing college experience. I was able to sharpen my leadership skills here while achieving academic excellence. My professors, advisers, and students that I’ve met here have all helped me in some way or the other to make me who I am today. I wouldn’t be as prepared for the real world outside of college, if it wasn’t for Coppin. This university has taught me the to continue to strive for my dreams and goals , no matter what adversity I may face along the way.

What specific initiatives have you headed up this year and how do you think they will improve the school and surrounding community?

My administration and I set out to make sure that there was always transparency when it comes to behind the scenes decisions made between the faculty/staff at Coppin. I believe it is the students rights to know what goes on at the university they attend because it will ultimately effect them in one way or the other. We made sure that the concerns and opinions of the students were heard, sent to the right departments, and were taken care of to the best of our ability. It’s important that we made the students know that what they say definitely matters.

How is your school currently responding to the coronavirus and what is your SGA administration doing to help students?

Our school is doing their very best to ensure that there are effective lines of communication between my executive board and the student body about decisions being made at our school. They have been very open about what is going to be done about things like refunds, online learning, commencement postponement, and more. I have had the opportunity to be involved in a lot of the meetings because my university believes it is important to have a student representative that can voice any concerns or make any suggestions on behalf of the student body.

How is the coronavirus affecting SGA elections for next year?

The coronavirus has greatly impacted how the SGA elections will run for the next year. Everything will have to be done remotely since we can no longer have them in person. That means that the application process, campaigning, and speech/debate night will be completely online. We are still making the best of the situation and encouraging all students to still apply and advocate for their classmates and/or peers.

What does leadership mean to you?

I believe leadership is all about constructively guiding those around you for a greater goal. It’s all about being able to pull people together, elevating them up, and ensuring that everyone is able to tap into the potential of being a future leader as well.

We now live in a digital world, what do you think schools need to do to represent themselves online in 2020?

Schools need to start taking advantage of their online platforms right now, if they haven’t already. This may cause an increase in retention and graduation rates for schools because many students are already advanced in the digital world nowadays, so it is more appealing for them to see schools being more interactive online. This is great for advertising and also boosting school spirit!

Why do you think Watch The Yard is important to Black students and college culture?

Watch The Yard is important to the black community, especially for black college students. It is essential to have platforms like this to highlight positive moments and uplift our communities. It feels good to have a platform like this that fills you with so much pride about who you are.

What do you plan on doing after graduation?

I plan to go to pharmacy school and receive my Doctorate in Pharmacy. Later on, I’d like to own my own pharmaceutical company and create pharmacies around the United States first, then the rest of the world.

We at Watch The Yard would like to commend Crystal Chukwu for her work as the SGA president of Coppin State University.