Meet the Candidates

Bio:

Amelia, born and raised in Denver, has been involved in community organizing since the age of fifteen, focusing on issues such as education equity, healthcare, and voting rights at local, state, and federal levels. Notably, they collaborated with organizations like New Era Colorado during the 2020 election, contributing to record-breaking youth turnout. Additionally, they worked with the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR) to include reproductive healthcare coverage for undocumented Coloradans through Senate Bill Nine which is not state law.

Amelia’s commitment to advocacy extended to national efforts as well, collaborating with Young Invincibles on proposals to safeguard funding for programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Locally, they engaged with Our Turn, Colorado, supporting BIPOC students in advocating for change within Denver Public Schools (DPS). Their work with Our Turn included spearheading a campaign to enhance mental health support in DPS, addressing the accessibility challenges faced by students.

Over the years, Amelia transitioned from a volunteer to a pivotal leader within Our Turn, playing a crucial role in developing and executing campaign strategies. Notably, their efforts led to the allocation of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds towards a mental health pilot program, benefiting thousands of DPS students.

Currently pursuing studies in Political Science and Chicano/a/e Studies at Metropolitan State University of Denver, Amelia aims to continue their advocacy by championing initiatives to enhance campus accessibility, increase awareness of university resources such as the MSU Denver Care Center, and advocate for the needs of Latino/a/e and Chicano/a/e students. Driven by a firm belief in the power of education and policy to effect positive change, Amelia is dedicated to shaping inclusive policies that foster equitable educational opportunities nationwide, aspiring to contribute to a brighter future for society through active engagement in policy-making.

Platform:

Vision: My vision for MSU Denver is one where every student has the opportunity to thrive. By championing accessibility, student well-being, and inclusivity, I aim to create a campus community that empowers all students to reach their full potential.

Priorities:

• Enhanced Campus Accessibility:
  • Advocate for the reinstatement of free RTD passes for all MSU Denver students to improve access to campus and beyond. ○ MSU Denver faculty still has access to RTD EcoPasses, and students should too. Transportation is often a large barrier to attended campus, and staying on track with degree plans.
• Promoting Student Well-being:
  • Increase financial bandwidth in 2025 Colorado Legislative session, by utilizing existing partnerships with Colorado Departmnet of Higher Education and Young Invincibles. raise awareness of the MSU Denver Care Center to provide vital support services to students.
  • Raise awareness of the MSU Denver Care Center to provide vital support services to students.
  • Add link to MSU Denver Care Center to all Canvass webpages. MSU Denver has various recourses available to students, it is essential to increase student knowledge of these resources.
• Advocating for Latino/a/e and Chicano/a/e Students:
  • Align university-wide Hispanic Serving Institution priorities with the specific needs of Latino/a/e and Chicano/a/e/x students.
  • Promote a more inclusive campus environment by ensuring the safety and support of students and faculty from diverse backgrounds, and by actively amplifying the voices and addressing the concerns of marginalized student groups.
  • Advocate for fair and adequate funding for the Chicano/a/e/x department, recognizing its historical significance and essential role on campus. It’s crucial that funding levels align with the department’s importance and contribution to our university community.

Why Vote for Amelia

• Proven track record of advocacy and leadership in community organizing.
• Commitment to listening to student concerns and translating them into actionable change.
• Vision for MSU Denver that prioritizes equity, accessibility, and student well-being.

Bio: 

My name is Levi Chee. I am a Junior at MSU seeking a bachelor’s in Cybersecurity. I am a 25-year-old Native American who has been in the United States Army for several years. I currently work on campus in the Tivoli at Veterans and Military Student Services, where I mainly work with veteran benefit resources. I like to work out, play video games, or go to punk shows for fun.  

 I was born in Pueblo and lived in Colorado for most of my life outside the period I spent in the military. After high school, I joined the U.S. Army as a truck mechanic and spent three and half years at FT. Irwin California. After the military, I returned to Colorado and attended Pueblo Community College. I got my undergraduate degree in Cybersecurity at Pueblo Community College and transferred to MSU for my bachelor’s in Cybersecurity.  

During my service, I learned what it means to be a leader and how to do good by those I lead. For a community to function correctly, we need people willing to advocate for ideas they genuinely believe in. We as a group need to work together to help everyone prosper; being a changemaker means shaking the current environment to advance into the future. 

Platform: 

Community Cohesion: A community is a group of people with strong bonds who work together for a brighter future. I want to bring this to MSU. While I feel that we have a good community, we can always strengthen our bonds to help those coming and leaving MSU feel welcome. 

Student Engagement: To start the foundation of a community, we need to get students involved on campus, not just the ones who live near Denver but the people who come to a community for classes. I feel if we can help people who drive here get involved, it will benefit the community in the long run. 

Indigenous Representation: The indigenous students have made great strides to get acknowledgment of the current land MSU sits on. However, I feel the best way to honor the tribes that were here is to keep their memory and culture alive with presentations and events that include indigenous students of the various tribes’ way of life. 

Financial Assistance: The MSU campus is located near downtown, and the costs reflect that, with high prices not just for tuition but also for parking, food, rent, and expenses. I want to use the amount of money people put into going to school and try to assist them with their bills through programs with the school, such as more funding for Rowdys Corner or a reduction in parking on certain days. 

Veteran Assistance: Over 500 veteran students currently attend MSU, and while the SVA has many events to help them get comfortable with college life, I feel we can do better for those who have served our country. Currently, I am working with members of Student Veterans of America to help incoming and current veterans students feel comfortable on our campus. 

Bio:  

My Name is Mike Warner (He/Him/His) and I live here in Denver! I am the proud son of a Mexican immigrant mother and a small business father. I identify as Mexican American and Queer, and I am campaigning to be your next Student Trustee of MSU Denver! My major is in accounting, but my passion is in leadership! I know this campus like the back of my hand, and I am ready to represent you on the University Board of Trustees! #mikeforMSU 

Platform:  

1. More student spaces on the Campus! 

AHEC took away Sigi’s Hub, and left student organizations without space in our Student Union. As Your next Student Trustee, I will take this problem to the board of Trustees and demand more spaces for MSU Denver students!

1. Empowerment of Student Organizations!  

Student Organizations are struggling to get started and stay active at MSU Denver. As Student Trustee, I will advocate for more student organization funding support on campus.  

1. Battle the barriers to seeking a higher education in Denver! 

As Student Trustee, I will bring solutions to address the high cost of living in Denver. Such as increasing financial aid and scholarships, advocating for campus wide housing, and supporting local businesses who support MSU Denver Students. 

Bio:

I am a Transfer Student from Community College of Denver, a First-Generation Black student, life-long learner and a Computer Information Systems sophomore major. I love road trips, reading books about how life works and how to better the quality of life. As an undergraduate at Community Colledge of Denver, I got accepted into MSU Denver’s Center for Advanced STEM Education program called Building Identity Leading to Diversity scholar. The C.AS.E. team gave me so much support in my academic career then and currently. I felt a since of belonging in STEM through the activities and opportunities given from this program, this is what lead me to attend MSU Denver. Since enrolling at MSU Denver, I was well fitted with the Immigrant Services and the Care Center who helped me smoothly transition. I identify as a black woman in STEM, an Immigrant, the Solution, and Honor Student.

Platform:

If elected I will be advocating and promoting the Care Center and Immigrant Services for ALL students who are struggling in silence with issues outside of school to get connected to the right resources. I strongly believe that when a student has a good support and networking team behind them, they will be able to succeed in the classroom and be better equipped to graduate in the right allotted timeframe. I am that link to the right resources for my fellow student. I too was once that person struggling in silence and afraid to ask for help, or simply wasn’t aware of all the campus resources available to me. I truly believe in diversity and everyone getting a fair and equal chance to opportunities. Come and voice your concerns with me and I will go above and beyond to find the solutions.

Bio:

Hello! My name is Victor Jaen Delgado, I am a 24-year-old Senior Physics student with a minor in mathematics. I was born in Juarez Chihuahua, Mexico, and Immigrated when I was only 2 years old. I have lived in Denver my whole life! I’ve stayed mainly in the northeast side of Denver in Aurora Colorado and most recently, in Montebello! I’m currently Building off an already amazing research project called the Youngs Double slit experiment to test the particle and wave-like properties of photons!  I love soccer and play regularly! I’m very passionate about science and the ability for more Marginalized communities to have more access to resources and guidance to take up space in Higher Institutions.  I’m very grateful to have the ability to run and have the chance to represent you!

Platform:

For a while now, Metro has established itself as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and I believe that to be true!  STEM is seen as a field where it shouldn’t be mixed with Policy, but most people don’t know the interconnectedness of policy and STEM! STEM is a field where it is Highly dominated by non-marginalized communities, and I feel as an institution, we can always strive to do better. I want to be able to work with our body, to have more resources and mentorship to see the rise of BIPOC in STEM. We as an institution have been able to cultivate titan partnerships with Boeing, Aerospace start-ups, and most recently, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. There should be a direct pipeline where marginalized communities have more resources and access to these partnerships, raising the representation in STEM degrees and Titan Institutions. It is also known that marginalized communities must travel longer distances when commuting to Higher institutions, I want to advocate for more efficient bus lines where we minimize our walking distances to and from the University campus avoid walking through some of the biggest intersections and heavy traffic in downtown. To add on, finding a efficient way to make campus safer all while not raising the presence of Police officers. It is always important to do all of these things in the most efficient and sustainable manner to reduce the greenhouse emissions Metro releases into downtown Denver, that would be working more closely with the Auraria sustainable campus program and Help reach Metro with its Climate Action Plan.

Bio:

Hi Everyone!! My name is Hailey Glass and I am going to be a Senior this fall at MSU Denver. I am currently studying Political Science on a Pre-Law track, looking to study Environmental Law or Criminal Law after I graduate. I have a passion for law and justice, and I am thrilled to be pursuing this career path.

I am a part of the MSU Denver’s Urban Leadership Program and have been since my Freshman year. I love being a part of this group because it has given me practical leadership experience, grown my networking opportunities and brought me some fantastic volunteer opportunities, including a service trip to Guatemala that I attended this Spring. I love to be involved in my community both on and off campus which has sparked my interest in joining TSAC.

When I am not on campus I spend my free time pursuing my love for both photography and travel. I own and operate my own photography business, specializing in portrait photography. I take photos for seniors, families, weddings, engagements, events and so much more and I really have a passion for this. I have also had the opportunity to travel a lot over the last few years and I love engaging in cultural exchanges and really learning about the people and the environment of places around the world. This has also driven my passion for preserving the environment and promoting sustainability.

I am excited for the opportunity to run for a position on The Student Advisory Council and I hope that you will consider giving me a vote!

Platform:

MSU Denver is the most diverse college campus in Colorado, and this is something to be greatly proud of. If I am elected to The Student Advocacy Council, I will strongly advocate for these diverse perspectives to be taken into account in every decision made. It is not enough to just have diversity, but the values, opinions, and culture of our diverse campus needs to be represented and included. I will ensure to gather the viewpoints of a diverse set of students in order to understand a variety of perspectives, rather than just assuming what is best.

Another important value to me is MSU Denver’s efforts to protect the environment and promote sustainability on campus. There have been some great efforts in previous years to advocate for environmental knowledge and protection on campus and these have been spectacular. As a part of TSAC I want to further these efforts and continue to advocate for the environment and sustainability practices on campus.

The final value I will be advocating for, in joining The Student Advocacy Council, is encouraging on campus involvement and establishing more inclusive events. I had trouble finding my place on campus in the first few years and I understand that attending a commuter campus can be highly isolating. Having had this experience myself, I want to advocate for the other students that may feel alone or isolated and I want to provide a platform for all individuals to be involved and feel like they belong on campus.

Bio: 

Hi, I am Matthew (Matt) Rathbun (he/him/they/them), and I am both an MSU Denver Alumni and a current graduate student in MSU Denver’s Master of Social Work (MSW) Program. My focus with his MSW degree is to work in policy and legislative advocacy. I have been, involved in making MSU Denver a better place since I was in my undergrad. In my undergrad, I was the Treasurer and then President of the Genders and Sexualities Alliance (GSA) which earned me an Ally award from the GLBT Student Services department in 2015. Currently, I work in The Student Care Center as a Peer Mentor with the HOPES Program, helping students navigate their personal, academic, and professional goals by helping break down barriers to their success. I am also working with the Department of Social Work Student Advisory Committee and interning with COMBINE Behavioral Health advocating for policy and legislative change at the state level for Medicaid Members in relation to access to Behavioral Health services.

Bio: 

Hello, MSU Denver Students. I’m Susana Aimee Villagomez, a proud Denver native with deep roots in Mexico. I’m thrilled to announce my candidacy for Student Advocacy Councilor. As a sophomore and soon-to-be junior, I’ve been an active part of our campus community throughout this academic year, contributing to Lambda Theta Nu Sorority, Inc., MGC Exec council, and College Track Denver. I have always encouraged my friends/peers to pursue higher education because I’m grateful to have this opportunity to go to school, like my parents, who needed to work hard to put me where I am now. I’m majoring in Broadcast Journalism with a minor in Spanish. I love to read whenever I have time; the same goes for arts and crafts, but mostly, I love hanging out with my little sister and my TWIN!  

Platform: 

My Vision for the Future:  

My vision for MSU Denver students is one of boundless potential. I envision a future where all students are empowered to pursue higher education, where their voices are not just heard but celebrated, and where their involvement on campus and networking is significantly increased.  

What we can work on:  

• Campus Accessibility: Students should be able to access RTD EcoPasses because MSU Denver is a commuter school, and helping students access the RTD buses allows them to get to school.  

• Advocating: Helping departments and programs at school will help students learn more about their career/major. Many programs here at MSU are getting used less even though students pay their tuition to use these programs/departments and help to advocate programs like the C2Hub, Peer Mentors, the Recreation Center, and many more.  
• Care Center: Promoting the Care Center is essential because all students’ well-being is necessary for the academic school year. Showing students about the Care Center can help students seek help in hard times and build a strong bond with students who want to continue school by knowing that students can have support when needed.  
• Student Voices: Most importantly, I want to let all students know that we are here to help meet their needs by finding ways to make their resources accessible all around campus.   

Vote for Susana Aimee Villagomez for Student Advocacy Councilor because your voice is essential to making the change around campus. Thank you for reading, and I am sending you all with Lambda love!🌹 

Bio:

Hi, I am William Coats, a sophomore here at MSU. In the short time I have been here, I’ve seen some of the issues the campus and students have to work through. I feel I can solve this by being elected to our student government. I want to be your voice, the voice of the students, regardless of how you identify or present yourself.

Everyone has a story of how they got to MSU. So here is mine. After high school, I was unsure of starting college or even which direction I wanted to go. I knew I wanted to do something meaningful, so I joined the Marine Corps and spent the next four years of my life as a chemical defense instructor. After separating, I joined the trades, where I installed solar panels for two years on roofs. I was ready for college, and where better than right here. I became a Roadrunner in the Spring of 2023. I’d love to hear your story sometime.

Based on my experience, I feel exceptionally qualified to represent the student body of MSU. I have one year of student government experience under my belt from the academic year 2023-2024. I want to improve the student experience while remaining true to my identity: Spanish-speaking Latino, Veteran, laborer, student employee, and, most importantly, student. I hope I can count on your support to make this university the best it can be. ¡Sí se puede!

Platform:

Reducing the cost of class: Even though our university has locked tuition, monetary barriers still exist on our campus. I will work with faculty and staff to reduce this burden by advocating for open-source textbooks and even looking into more services provided by the student government.

Veteran and minority support: MSU is home to almost 1,500 veterans and dependents. These individuals have chosen to dedicate their lives in support of our country. The transition is tough, and our prior service members deserve more support than they are given now. In addition to supporting this group, I will work to ensure our minority population is cared for and that MSU maintains its status as a Hispanic Serving Institute.

Campus safety: We reside on a public campus, so campus safety concerns are real. As a man, I cannot relate to the safety concerns of MSU’s mostly female population, but I can listen, learn, and develop strategies with the university and AHEC to address these concerns.