MSCSA Presidents’ Group Vice Chair TJ Malaskee and Chair Abby Ledvina

By Bruce Humphrey
MSCSA West Central Governing Council Representative & Ridgewater College Student

Who are your leaders? How did they get here and where are they going? What do they hope to accomplish? What will they pass on? What do they believe in?

These are just a few of the questions we will be asking your Governing Council and Platform Committee Representatives throughout the year. Each edition of the Students’ View will take a closer look at one of the nine regions that represent Minnesota’s community and technical students.

Abby Ledvina, the Minnesota State College Student Association (MSCSA) Presidents’ Group Chair, and I talked by phone about what makes her want to lead, what she values in leaders and the vision she has for MSCSA’s Presidents’ Group.

Let’s Take A Closer Look at the Presidents’ Group Chair:

Q: What made you want to run for office?

A: I just got very interested in the clubs and organizations and I thought I had good skills for the positions.  I don’t mind taking on responsibility.  They all kind of work together so we can collaborate.  I love working with people and I love being involved.

Q: What are you working on and what do you hope to accomplish on a local level on your campus?
A: Community.  I would like to see the senate work together as a team and to accomplish things as a team.  I enjoy the issues that we are working on, but I think that the more we can get on the same playing field and the more everyone feels included, the more things we can get done.  I’m working to make sure that that kind of teamwork happens.  I like the idea of making sure that everybody’s voice is being heard.  For example, we are looking at the smoking issue and trying to find out what our campus wants and what they deserve.

Q: …and a similar question: What are you working on and what do you hope to accomplish at the state level with MSCSA?
A: I don’t know if I’m taking it in a different direction or not, but I want to have it be more of a network where we work together and share information.  I’d like to see it used more as a resource where we can have more open communication between different campuses, working together more on issues that we have in common.

Q: What are your education and career goals and how do you think serving in these positions will help you meet your goals?
A: I enjoy organizing things.  I like bringing people together and helping them set goals and work toward those goals.  I don’t know if I’ll have a future in some kind of administration since I am pursuing a biology major, but I think that what I’m learning from student government will be able to apply just about anywhere I go.  My involvement in student government has taken my education on a little detour, but it has really helped me learn how to deal with other people.  I could even see myself getting involved in education.

Q: With so little time for the people who elected you to get to know you and such limited opportunity for the students you represent to meet you, here is a chance to talk to 110,000+ people. What do you wish more people knew about you?
A: That I’m crazy.  No, don’t write that.  I don’t know.  I really like to have fun.  I really value people and how everyone has something to contribute.  I’m a kind, caring person, and just really want to help others.  I really like to get to know people.  That’s what I love about what I do is how I get to meet lots, and lots and lots of people.  And I love the Green Bay Packers.

Q: Participating in MSCSA offers many different benefits to many different people. What would you say are the greatest benefits you have received?
A: Meeting new people.  Learning new things about how to be a better leader.  Overcoming my shyness and coming out of my bubble.  It has opened my eyes to how an organization runs and how things work.

Q: The year is just beginning for MSCSA. What area or areas do you see as great strength(s) that can be capitalized upon as this year’s work begins?
A: There are so many of us and we have such great participation.  We have so many people that want to be involved, that is a huge thing.  On a state level, we can outreach to even more students by using the Presidents’ Group to help presidents learn about how to grow their senates and how they can be more involved in their campuses.  I think we can increase the reach of our workshops and programs to get more of the average students aware of who we are, what we do, and what we are fighting for.

Q: Now to put you on the spot: What do you see as MSCSA’s area or areas of weakness that can be improved upon this year?
A: Increased communications between the different campuses.  Not just working together at conferences but joining together with the campuses within our regions and tackling topics together.   Communication is key.  Most things that happen on one campus have already happened somewhere else.  Sometimes we talk about these things, but I think we need to formalize the process more through more roundtable discussions.

Q: Those we serve under often serve as role models, offering inspiration and motivation. What cabinet member do you admire the most and why?
A: I would have to say Nathan Hanson [MSCSA Public Relations Coordinator].  I know him more than the others, but what I do know about him is that he gets so much stuff done.  I don’t know how he does it, but anything that I need, I can always ask him and he will get it done.  He’s always willing to help others out.

Q: Similar question: What staff member do you admire the most and why?
A: [MSCSA Executive Director] Justin Klander.  Man, that guy puts up with a lot.  He has a ton of responsibility and he always has a good attitude about it.  I really admire that.

Q: Finally, the question I always ask in every interview: What is the question that I did not ask but should have and what is the answer?

A: What’s your favorite color, and why?  Yellow represents joy and the sun and I think it’s a positive color and I see myself as very positive.