From left to right: Jessica Doss, Yousif Radhi, and Brylan Cole — three students serving in Associated Student Government.
It’s no secret that the strength of a thriving community lies not just in the faces that represent it, but in the diverse ideals and ambitions those people bring together in pursuit of a common goal. This truth is reflected clearly in the University of Arkansas’s Associated Student Government community.
When people hear the words “student government,” the emphasis often lands on government, but it’s the students that make this organization special. The agents of ASG are classmates, friends, and peers all walking the same sidewalks and coming from every corner of campus. From sculptors to scientists, aspiring politicians to business professionals, ASG brings together some of the brightest minds on campus — students whose futures may head in every direction, but meet here to make a difference.
For Yousif Radhi, Director of Professional Development in the Freshman Leadership Forum, ASG has been a gateway to a broader worldview. An international business major, Yousif aspires to travel and collaborate with people across the globe, a dream strengthened by his experiences in ASG.
“You have to be able to understand other perspectives and be open to ideas that might be different from your own,” Radhi said. “ASG has really shown me that it’s a phenomenal way to learn new things and to discover more about yourself than you ever knew before.”
Radhi also explained how engaging with peers from a wide range of majors has been particularly impactful. “Being surrounded by people from completely different majors has been really helpful. They bring new perspectives and show me solutions I never would’ve thought of. In international business, it’s good to know a lot of different things, and I’ve learned so much from classmates in pre-med, law, art, music, and more.”
He also added that the small groups he has mentored in FLF have provided him with unique leadership skills and countless lessons from working alongside peers who challenge him to think differently. Yousif exemplifies the camaraderie of the ASG community and how it prepares you for not just business, but also understanding people, which is crucial in any career field.
At its core, ASG is a community built on collaboration and connection, forming relationships that open doors and shape what’s ahead. From experimental media to pre-med, its influence extends across every discipline, offering students a space to explore, to grow, and to discover new possibilities.
A biology pre-med student aiming to become a physician, Director of Physical Health Jessica Doss discovered a passion for public policy and advocacy through her role in ASG and Razorback Action Group, reshaping her career goals in unexpected ways. In ASG, she coordinates programming and serves as a liaison to the UREC and the Pat Walker Health Center, gaining insight into students’ health needs.
Though student government is often dominated by political science majors, Doss emphasizes the importance of STEM voices. “Health is instrumental in any aspect of a student’s life. Having voices from STEM and health sciences gives a better sense of the student body as a whole and ensures their perspectives are included in decision-making.”
Doss even had her own career goals shift after her experiences in ASG, finding a passion for public policy in the healthcare system. She encourages students joining ASG to not “be too rigid and fixed on what their ambitions are and to be open to being influenced by what you experience in ASG. It provides skills that transcend any career.”
ASG Secretary Brylan Cole has found student government to be both a creative outlet and a place to sharpen skills for his future. With a degree in sculpture and experimental media, Brylan never imagined joining ASG until Vice President Laney Kellybrew encouraged him. “I thought it was too serious and bourgeois for someone who studies art and is a first-generation student,” he admitted. “But once I joined, finding my community was easy — it was only a matter of taking the first step.”
Now leading the Marketing and Communications team, Brylan has reshaped ASG’s image through powerful storytelling and a fresh arts perspective. “The most rewarding part of leading the marketing and communications team for ASG is getting to create stories that I would have wanted to see as a student at large,” Brylan stated. “I have always understood the intersection between communications and the arts, but ASG has helped reinforce this belief. I now see how communications can be elevated through applying an arts perspective.”
Brylan’s journey shows that ASG isn’t reserved for a certain major or path — it’s about the willingness to knock on the door. “Wherever I go after graduation, I know that my time as secretary will make me a more confident and articulate leader,” Brylan said.
Brylan and Jessica both came from majors that may not look like “typical ASG majors,” but through the program they both found their passions redefined: Jessica discovering her true career calling in health policy, and Brylan finding reinforcement that the arts and communications build something even stronger when put together.
One theme shines through all of these stories: the beauty of ASG is illustrated in the diversity of its participants’ passions, giving students the tools and experiences to succeed wherever their paths may lead. ASG thrives on the variety of voices — each distinct, each powerful, yet harmonious in message and goal. Lessons learned today will accompany these individuals long after they have parted from the program.
Siena Lamb // Director of Communications // Instagram @sienalamb