Chris Myers

          Christopher Myers of Bethel Park has attended his first Clarion University Council of Trustees meeting as the new student trustee. He must be sworn in before he takes his seat with the Council.

            Myers, a junior industrial relations major, is a son of Robert and Nancy Myers of Bethel Park and is a graduate of Bethel Park High School. He is replacing Kyle McMunn of Knox, who graduated in May.

            The governor of Pennsylvania, following a review process, appoints all trustees, including the student trustee. Trustee duties include making recommendations, evaluating, reviewing, approving, and participating in planning efforts for personnel, fiscal affairs, academic policy, strategic planning, student affairs, and facilities management.

            "The role of the student trustee holds great importance because of their representation of the university," said Myers about his decision to seek the student trustee position. "Their job is to make sure policies and procedures are being followed properly, while making a positive impact in the community."

            Like everyone else, Myers recognizes the forces of economics as a major challenge for Clarion University. "Currently, budgets are being cut, which will affect college life in every aspect," he said. "It is hard to determine what the economic stability of the university will be in the next few years, but budget cuts cannot be made that will affect students directly."

            On the student side of the ledger, Myers would like to see activities that would keeps his peers on campus every weekend.

            "In my two remaining years at Clarion University, I would like to make a positive impact on the campus and the community," he said. "I believe retention needs to be improved on campus, especially on the weekends. Having been a student at Clarion for three years, I have witnessed weekends where no one is around. The lack of population of campus during weekends reaches out to the economic stability of the Clarion community. I plan to dedicate myself to finding ways to improve weekends on campus and in the economic long run, hope that improvements in the community will be made."

            As the incoming president of Clarion University's Student Activities Board (UAB), Myers will have a say in the efforts. Starting as a freshman member of the UAB Special Events Committee, he went on to serve as committee co-chair and chair of that committee, and by his junior year was a member of the UAB's Executive Board as technology coordinator. He was named UAB's Member of the Year in 2009.

            He has also been a member of the Teacher Education Student Advisory Committee; a member of the Clarion University Web Advisory Committee; and was one of nine students appointed to go to the National Conference on Student Leadership in November 2009; leading to him organizing Clarion University's first Leaders in Action Conference in March 2010.

            Myers came to Clarion University as an elementary education/special education major, and found himself developing more of an interest in the field of business and economics. He changed his major to business administration and is focusing on industrial relations and business economics.

            "My greatest accomplishment during my years at Clarion University would be getting involved on campus. I have seen people who do not get involved on campus and don't necessarily enjoy their college years. By getting involved and meeting new people, it has opened up new doors and opportunities that I never thought possible. If someone asked me during my first semester as a freshman if I would be president elect of one of the largest organizations on campus I would not believe them. I am proud to call myself a member of the Clarion University community and I hope I can share my enthusiasm with others in the future."

            Clarion University is the high-achieving, nationally recognized, comprehensive university that delivers a personal and challenging academic experience.