Advice from Former Officers

Vice Chair

The Vice Chair performs the duties of the State Chair in their absence. They chair the Delegates Assembly Committee meetings and Internal Affairs Committee meetings. The work with the State Chair to execute the organization’s mission. The Vice Chair also co-chairs the Students United Scholarship and Alumni Advisory Board.

Advice from:

  • Current Vice Chair Axel Kylander | 2022-2023

  • Former Vice Chair Emma Zellmer | 2020-2021

  • Former Vice Chair Sandra Shimba | 2019-2020

  • Former Vice Chair Lexi Byler | 2017-2018

  • Former Vice Chair Dylan Green | 2016-2017

 
 

WHAT ARE THE TOP THREE SKILLS/ATTRIBUTES THAT HELPED YOU BE SUCCESSFUL?

Kylander:

  • Communication: Keeping in touch with your fellow officers and staff and staying in the loop about what’s going on in the many different topic areas Students United works in is, I think, one of the most important things to do in managing this role. 

  • Curiosity: Asking questions is one of the best ways to learn and grow in this role, and especially stepping into the parts of the work that might be less familiar with a lens of curiosity is a great way to get through the anxiety that comes with inexperience. 

  • Organization: There’s so much going on at Students United, and staying organized with what’s coming up will make you more effective. Keeping a clear, organized schedule of what commitments you have here and in other parts of your life helps a lot. 

Zellmer: Speaking up for yourself, time management, and teamwork.

Shimba:

  • Listening, and processing the information well before making a decision

  • Giving and Seeking advice

  • Being a team player 

Byler: Teamwork, communication, and listening skills are the top three things that helped me be a successful servant to the organization. 

Green: Earnestness is a trait that I think all officers should have, and I certainly believe it helped me.  It is nigh impossible to be successful and to serve the students you represent without some level of sincerity.  Patience is another trait that kept me grounded and level headed.  In the grand scheme of things, your time with Students United is like being in a relay race.  You carry the baton as far as you can and pass it on to the next group so progress can continue.  You cannot achieve all that you wish in such a short amount of time.  Be patient with the process and keep things moving.  Finally, striving to be as altruistic as possible served me well.  The students themselves are what makes Students United so impactful.  Creating space for other students to lead in place of yourself allows Students United to be the changemaker we all know it is capable of being. 

 
 

HOW TIME-CONSUMING WAS THIS POSITION? HOW OFTEN WERE YOU IN THE CITIES/TRAVELING TO CAMPUSES?

Kylander: I’d say the estimate for Vice Chair of 15 hours/week isn’t too far off on average, slower in the summer and fall and then busier as you get into winter and spring. Organized campus visits are generally about once per semester, and most work could be done remotely, while always having the option to come down to the office. Conferences and events took me to the cities maybe once a month on average, or a little more or less depending on the month. 

Zellmer: Overall, the position was not very time consuming, but this may be due to the fact that I was the Vice-Chair during a pandemic and did not need to drive to any of the campuses or to the cities. Having meetings online made it easy to fit into my schedule. Even during weeks before conferences where we would have more frequent and longer meetings, the staff is extremely supportive in making sure that you are able to do everything you need for the position as Vice-Chair and continue with your normal school and life schedule.

Shimba: The position is periodically time consuming . I would  attend monthly chancellor's meeting, attend some of the coordinators meeting

chairing the Alumni Board meeting (2 per year). I would travel to the cities at least 2-3 times a months and would do a visit to the 7 campuses twice a year (once every semester). The position is mostly what you make out of it.

Byler: One of the things I loved most about the position of Vice Chair is that it is what you make of it. I was a part-time, online student and moved to St. Paul within walking distance to the Students United office. For those reasons, I was quite accessible and was at the office at least two times per week. The State Chair, Faical, and I decided early on that we would travel to each campus both semesters. We spent a lot of time on the road together, listening to great playlists, driving across the state to attend meetings with students, faculty, staff, and administration at each university. I also spent quite a bit of time at the MN State system office for Board of Trustees and committee/council meetings, as well as monthly meetings with Chancellor Malhotra. 

Green: This position can be relatively time consuming.  Due to my location in Bemidji during my term, it was difficult to make it to the cities as often as I wanted.  However, I did travel to many of the western and southern campuses.  

 
 

WERE THERE ANY RESPONSIBILITIES YOU HAD IN YOUR OFFICER ROLE THAT YOU DIDN'T THINK ABOUT WHEN RUNNING?

Kylander: Going into this position, I think the part I was least prepared for was being involved with alumni engagement, fundraising, and other development work like that. It was on my radar, but something that I had to approach knowing it would be an area for growth for me in the role. 

Zellmer: As Vice Chair, it was hard to know what all to expect when coming into the position. I honestly had come into the position thinking that I would be doing more than I ended up having to do. The one responsibility that I did not expect when coming in was interviews with the media. This was a great opportunity to really feel like I was working for students and helping push forward the Students United agenda.

Shimba: I knew I was Co-Chair of the Alumni board but I didn't fully know all that it entailed. I was also surprised at the number of meeting that we would have with other bargaining units (IFO), Minnesota State, and attend Board of Trustees meeting almost on a monthly basis to testify.

Byler: I didn't think I would be as involved in system committees as I ended up being. Since I lived so close to both the Students United and Minnesota State system offices, it just made sense for me to be on multiple committees. 

Green: I was a little surprised by the amount of public speaking I ended up doing.  It was not the easiest thing for me, but I came to enjoy it by the end of my term.

 
 

FOR STUDENTS CONSIDERING RUNNING WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR THEM?

Kylander: My advice is: Know why you’re running. What has led you here, and what do you want to accomplish? Lean on your skills, personal and professional experiences, and passions in answering those questions, and go into the election and the position with both that passion and an open mind to learn and grow. 

Also – remember that a position and a title don’t make someone a leader. Leadership comes from what you do, and if you want to serve our fellow students, keep seeking out ways to do that, win or lose, and you’ll be just as much a leader either way. 

Zellmer: When considering running for a students united position my biggest piece of advice is to be flexible with what your plan and goals are for the year (with or without a pandemic). Student issues are always fast and evolving, and students may need you to work on projects that you maybe did not see as part of your role or goals. As long as you are passionate about student issues in all forms and be willing to support campuses and the organization in capacities that may to be what you are used to.

Shimba: When running be confident in yourself, make sure you do your homework on what the position entails before the candidates forum. 

When you have been  elected  be a team player, listen a lot and understand the information that is given to you before you make a decision. I had decided that apart from my other roles I would act as an advisor to the board of directors and the State Chair. 

Make sure you know exactly what you are signing up for, and that you dedicated to what you are committing to because  all to Minnesota State students are relying to you to make their issues known to all stake holders. Remember that role is not to execute your own agenda but to be the face of the organization and advocate for your fellow students.

I cannot emphasize how important it is to rely on the staff and build relationships with the Board members and staff. make sure you learn from the professional staff 

Byler: The advice I would give anyone running for an officer position is to make sure you know what you're signing up for. Being an officer for a statewide student association is a rare opportunity. Most public institutions don't have statewide representation like we do, and in the states that do, there are even fewer that have the support of full-time professional staff members. More importantly, over 60,000 students will depend on you to amplify their voice. The role of an officer isn't to create and execute their own agenda but to act on students' needs and desires and to use the Students United platform to advocate on behalf of the students of the Minnesota State university system. 

Green: Make sure your heart is fully in it.  You need to be able to commit to running, which is difficult on its own, and serving the position to the best of your ability.  As far as campaigning goes, the best advice I can offer is to run without fear of losing.  I never applied or campaigned to be Vice Chair.  I was nominated on the floor literally 5 minutes before the rounds of questions for the candidates began.  It ended up being an advantage for me because, without prepared answers, I could provide answers with honesty and passion.  Be sincere and run with everything you have, but never let fear of losing prevent you from being your authentic self.  

 
 

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING A STUDENTS UNITED (MSUSA) OFFICER?

Kylander: Students United is a great place to work for a wonderful community, and the staff I’ve worked alongside are some of the most brilliant, kind, supportive colleagues I’ve ever had. That’s one of my favorite parts of being a Students United Officer. But beyond that, the work this organization does is very important and helps thousands of students year after year. It’s very meaningful, humbling, and fulfilling to get to be a part of that work, and I’m honored that I have been.

Zellmer: My favorite part about being an officer has been the ability to meet with campus and system administrators on behalf of students. Having conversations about students’ issues with the people that need to understand them the most has always been one of my favorite parts of student leadership. Beyond that, I have enjoyed learning about each of the campuses and how their student leadership works and succeeds. I have learned so much from the board members and staff and am excited to bring all of my knowledge and experiences gained from them into my future.

Shimba: My favorite part of being an officer was going to visit the different campuses, meeting different students during the fall and spring conference, but mostly bringing the board members to testify in front of the board of trustees and hearing their amazing stories.

Byler: It's incredibly difficult to choose one favorite thing about being a Students United officer. I loved so many different aspects of my role as Vice Chair. If I must, I would choose our conferences because this is where students, staff, and administrators came together to discuss and share ideas that will help make the Minnesota State student experience better. These conferences are where the foundation of the organization lies, in the hands of our students - which is exactly where it belongs. Countless Students United accomplishments can be traced back to a single motion, conversation, or idea that was sparked at a conference. Students are the root and heart of the organization and bringing them together to share ideas and organize to create change was always a fun and special experience.  

Green: Chairing the delegates assembly was always a blast.  Joe Wolf and Sean Duckworth, the other officers I served with, made it fun and easy to get things done.  Getting relevant and sometimes strange advice from the legendary John Hermann is something I will always cherish.   And, of course, the students I met along the way.  They forever changed me for the better.