Senate expected to approve ASU law student's appointment within a few weeks

Danelle Peterson does not go to UA, but for the next two years, she will likely be one of only two students to represent the more than 100,000 Arizona university students on the Board of Regents.

Governor Jane Dee Hull recommended Peterson for the position Monday, weeks after she became one of three finalists nominated by the student government at Arizona State University.

The state Senate and its Education Committee are expected to approve Peterson's appointment within the next few weeks, said Board of Regents spokesman Matt Ortega.

Peterson, an ASU law student, will replace Northern Arizona University student regent Myrina Robinson on July 1. She will obtain the right to vote during her second year on the board, which consists of eight voting members in addition to the voting student regent.

Student regents do not vote during their first year on the board. Peterson plans to spend her first year educating herself on regents' policies and issues.

"I like the idea of not voting my first year," Peterson said. "I will then be more educated when I can vote."

Peterson plans to focus her two years on the board on keeping students better informed of the board's workings and trying to improve the advising process at all three state schools.

"I want to communicate with more students," Peterson said. "That is a big goal with UA student regent (Matthew) Meaker and myself. Together, I think we can do this."

Meaker, a UA law student, will become a voting member of the board this summer.

"I absolutely look forward to working with Danelle," Meaker said. "I will enjoy talking out important issues with her."

She also looks forward to raising awareness of the current advising problems at NAU, ASU and UA. Many of the advising policies need to be improved and many students are not aware of the advising available to them, she said.

Peterson said her involvement with the Arizona Students' Association and her school board during her senior year in high school prepared her for the job of student regent.

"By being a part of the school board, I learned just how important a student's voice could be," Peterson said.

Peterson has also been involved in organizations such as the Women's Student Law Association, ASU Homeless Legal Assistance Program and Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity.

She has been actively involved in the Associated Students of ASU for the past four years.

"I think her past experiences will give her a good perspective of being an undergraduate and a student leader," Meaker said.