{"455631":{"#nid":"455631","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Your Student Government Leaders: Get to Know Jen and Jeff","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJen Abrams and Jefferson Losse serve as the 2015-16 undergraduate Student Government Association (SGA) president and vice president. Aside from the responsibilities of being Tech students, Jen and Jeff represent Tech and serve as liaisons between students and the administration. They lead the 300 students currently involved in SGA.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Student Government Association is involved in all aspects of academic and student life, often working behind the scenes to make sure that Tech offers the best campus services and resources to undergraduate students on campus.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJen is a fourth-year public policy major and global development minor from Lawrenceville, Georgia. Jeff is a fourth-year student from Charlotte, North Carolina, majoring in mechanical engineering with minors in chemistry and biomedical engineering.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch6\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy did you decide to join SGA?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h6\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJen: \u003C\/strong\u003EI think I joined mainly because I like to help people, and I love Tech, and those usual reasons of why you want to make a difference on campus. When I got really involved I stuck with it, seeing how much work we do but also how much influence we actually have, which was more than I had even understood.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJeff: \u003C\/strong\u003EI was really heavily involved in student government in high school and so I was interested in that path. I really got hooked on it when I joined sophomore year as a representative because that\u2019s when I realized how much influence we had as an organization. If you wanted to change something on campus or saw an issue that you wanted to fix, then SGA could help with that effort.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch6\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAfter being in office for a few months now and seeing what you can realistically accomplish, what is your main goal for this semester?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h6\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJeff: \u003C\/strong\u003EWe\u2019re juggling a lot of different things. We knew what was feasible before we ran because we were involved in exec last year. We think we can accomplish everything in our platform.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJen: \u003C\/strong\u003EThere are two sides to this: We have goals for SGA externally and internally. Outside of SGA, we\u2019re focusing on the learning environment at Tech. Specifically, working with the Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning and the faculty student agreement.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJeff: \u003C\/strong\u003EI\u2019m working heavily with Greek Affairs to strengthen the partnership between SGA and IFC [Interfraternity Council] and CPC [Collegiate Panhellenic Council]. We\u2019re also continuing things that were started last year, like the Mental Health Task Force and Sexual Violence Advisory Board.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJen: \u003C\/strong\u003EInternally, we\u2019re working to empower our members who aren\u2019t on Cabinet or who are first-year representatives. We want to make sure that we\u2019re using our entire organization to be the voice of the students.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch6\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat other campus organization or involvement has helped you develop your leadership skills?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h6\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJen: \u003C\/strong\u003EFASET. I was first a leader and then on Cabinet. I think back to my first year on FASET and remember at the end of the summer how I felt so much more confident than at the beginning of the summer. I don\u2019t know what I would be like if I hadn\u2019t done FASET because it gave me so many great leadership opportunities. Also, I know everything about personality tests now.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJeff: \u003C\/strong\u003EI did a lot of research on campus, and it wasn\u2019t necessarily a role I was a leader in, but I loved my boss in one of the labs I worked in. I learned from the researchers and they mentored me. I saw how they treated people that worked for them and it had a positive impact on me.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch6\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat do you want to do after you graduate?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h6\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJen: \u003C\/strong\u003EI want to go to grad school but first want to do some work. I\u2019m passionate about health policy and higher education policy. I definitely have the D.C. itch, so I\u2019m all about going to D.C. whenever I can, but mainly just helping out with health policy in America.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJeff: \u003C\/strong\u003EThat\u2019s a tough question. I\u2019m looking at going into consulting or maybe a grad program, depending on what I want to do. I\u2019m thinking about getting a doctorate in electrical engineering or computer science and going into robotics automation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch6\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat\u2019s your favorite Tech memory?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h6\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJen: \u003C\/strong\u003EMy first and second year I was on the drum line. I spent a year on cymbols and a year on bass drum. I was the only girl on drum line my second year, and they called me \u201cMama Jen.\u201d Also, we went to the Sun Bowl my freshman year, and that was great because whenever the team is excited the band is excited.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJeff: \u003C\/strong\u003EOne of my favorites was being part of the Yellow Men, the guys who dress up in neon yellow jumpsuits at the front of the Swarm section at football games. I did this with my friends from freshman year, so when we all went our separate ways sophomore year we\u2019d all come back together for the games and don the yellow suits. We were highlighted on ESPN one time.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch6\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat\u2019s one personal goal you have for yourself this semester?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h6\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJen: \u003C\/strong\u003EWorking out and running. It\u2019s important to me that I run a lot. I run a race with my family every month. My favorite race is the Peachtree Road Race. My two favorite things are America and running, so when they\u2019re combined it\u2019s great. But the Hot Chocolate 5k is a close second.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJeff: \u003C\/strong\u003ESleep more. The worst is when you put on your calendar when to eat.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch6\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat does your day look like? How is it different from when you weren\u2019t SGA president and vice president?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h6\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJen: \u003C\/strong\u003EI get up at 7 a.m. and go to bed around 1 or 2 a.m. I usually have an early morning meeting, then go to class, and then head to the SGA office and then send emails. Around midnight or 12:30 a.m. is when I start homework. \u2026 Maybe every three days or so I see my roommates so they know I\u2019m still alive.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJeff: \u003C\/strong\u003EIt\u2019s a lot more structured now, and there\u2019s a lot less free time. You have your classes and fill it up with meetings in between. Also, it takes us longer to get across campus when we\u2019re walking together because she goes off to say hi to someone, and then I go say hi to someone else, and before you know it about an hour and a half later we\u2019ll get where we were going.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch6\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat\u2019s your favorite thing to do in your free time?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h6\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJen: \u003C\/strong\u003EI like to run, clearly. And I have this thing about coffee shops. My favorite coffee shop right now is Chattahoochee Coffee Company. I also like to read, and I\u2019m currently reading \u003Cem\u003ENot a Fan\u003C\/em\u003E by Kyle Idleman, \u003Cem\u003EBossypants\u003C\/em\u003E by Tina Fey, and \u003Cem\u003EThe Residence\u003C\/em\u003E by Kate Andersen Brower.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJeff: \u003C\/strong\u003EMy free time is at the end of the day. I read a lot too, but I don\u2019t read the typical fun stuff. You\u2019ll probably fall asleep when I tell you this, but I\u2019m reading about investment strategies right now. I\u2019m reading Warren Buffet\u2019s classic investment book. In my fraternity we have a book club, it\u2019s like a book exchange, and I\u2019m also reading a collection by C.S. Lewis.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch6\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat\u2019s your favorite thing about Atlanta?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h6\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJen:\u003C\/strong\u003E One of my favorite things about Atlanta is that you can be in the city but it won\u2019t feel like it. It\u2019s such a gorgeous city. I love the history of Atlanta. There\u2019s always something going on and I love the diversity of the city.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJeff: \u003C\/strong\u003EMy alarm clock, which is actually fire trucks at 3 in the morning .\u2026 But, I like eating in Atlanta. There are a lot of good barbecue places, so I like to try a new place whenever I go out with friends.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch6\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf someone wanted to bribe you, what could they do it with?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h6\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJen: \u003C\/strong\u003ESnickers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJeff: \u003C\/strong\u003ESnickers \u2014 this must be the reason we work well together.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch6\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat\u2019s the best thing about working together?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h6\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJen:\u003C\/strong\u003E I ran with Jeff because I wanted someone who balances me well. On the surface Jeff is much more chill than me. He\u2019s also a really hard worker. My favorite thing about working with Jeff is that everything I need to improve on, Jeff has that.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJeff:\u003C\/strong\u003E Jen complements me really well. Before I came to college I was much more reclusive, but Jen is a very \u201cin-your-face, I\u2019m so excited\u201d person. Even in the last 12 months I\u2019ve noticed a change in my persona and that I\u2019ve grown a lot as a person over the last year.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch6\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAnything else you want to tell the student body?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h6\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJen:\u003C\/strong\u003E The SGA Office is across from the Subway in the Student Center. Lots of people who walk in the office are just lost, but we actually hold office hours for students. Our secretary is a notary, and we have a lawyer if you ever need one. Feel free to drop by sometime.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo learn more about SGA visit\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.sga.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003Ewww.sga.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe SGA undergraduate president and vice president answered a few questions on their goals, career aspirations, and lives as students.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The SGA undergraduate president and vice president answered a few questions on their goals, career aspirations, and lives as students."}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2015-10-01 14:30:54","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:19:43","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2015-10-01T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2015-10-01T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"449131":{"id":"449131","type":"image","title":"Jen and Jeff 1","body":null,"created":"1449256264","gmt_created":"2015-12-04 19:11:04","changed":"1475895189","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:53:09","alt":"Jen and Jeff 1","file":{"fid":"203282","name":"img_6137.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/img_6137_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/img_6137_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":723091,"path_740":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/img_6137_0.jpg?itok=8N_J49Ym"}},"449141":{"id":"449141","type":"image","title":"Jen and Jeff 2","body":null,"created":"1449256264","gmt_created":"2015-12-04 19:11:04","changed":"1475895189","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:53:09","alt":"Jen and Jeff 2","file":{"fid":"203283","name":"img_6315.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/img_6315_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/img_6315_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":234545,"path_740":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/img_6315_0.jpg?itok=qeOF0lBe"}}},"media_ids":["449131","449141"],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/sga.gatech.edu\/","title":"Student Government Association"}],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[{"id":"10345","name":"involvement"},{"id":"72321","name":"leadership and civic engagement"},{"id":"166922","name":"sga"},{"id":"167058","name":"Student"},{"id":"166923","name":"student government association"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:stucomm@gatech.edu\u0022\u003ERachel Isaac\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003EInstitute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}