A former student body president and current UA law student was selected yesterday by Gov. Janet Napolitano to serve as next year's nonvoting member of the Arizona Board of Regents.
Ben Graff, a first-year law student who served as president of the Associated Students of the University of Arizona from 2000 to 2001, said the position will allow him to serve as a representative of the student body again, a role he said he loves.
"My number-one motivator is that I love being in a position of being a representative of different bodies," he said. "I am overwhelmingly excited to be able to be a representative of students and education in Arizona again."
Student regents serve for two years, the first year as a nonvoting member and the following year as a voting member of the board of regents. The position rotates among the three universities.
Napolitano selected Graff after conducting an interview with four finalists selected by ASUA.
"Ben Graff is a standout student who will balance his enthusiasm for student advocacy with his understanding of the complex and fast-changing Arizona university system," Napolitano said.
Graff, who said he has future political aspirations, said his term as student body president from 2000 to 2001 enabled him to form professional relationships with the majority of regents and administrators.
"I know where they are coming from, and they know where I am coming from," he said. "A lot of that is a great advantage because instead of spending the summer getting to know key players, I can work on issues right away."
He also said the two years he took off before entering law school gives him a unique perspective as student regent.
"As a regent, you are looking at conflicting issues regarding education. So it helps extremely to know what other competing issues are out there," he said. "Education is extremely important, but it's not the only issue."
During his two years off from school, Graff worked as a case manager for Child Protective Services. He also worked as a field coordinator for Foster Robberson's campaign for Arizona's attorney general.
"I got to know people in the farthest and smallest towns in Arizona," he said. "I have an overall knowledge of what Arizona has to offer."
Graff said as a regent he will advocate for staff, faculty, administrators and students at all three Arizona universities, adding that as the student regent he has a special obligation to students.
"The student regent has an incredible obligation and responsibility to students specifically," he said. "The student regent alone does have a higher responsibility to serve as the voice of students."
Graff said he will travel to all three universities and meet not only with student government officials but also with typical students to take the student "pulse."
"The best thing to remember is that just because you're a student doesn't mean your beliefs represent the beliefs of the student body," he said. "You can't take it for granted that your personal opinion is the right one."
Graff plans to advocate increased student financial aid. He hopes to ensure that students with need-based and merit-based scholarships in the Eller College of Management are protected from a $250 semester fee.
Graff's term will begin on July 1.
Student Regent Danelle Kelling's term ends on June 30. Kelling is an Arizona State University law student. When her term expires, Wes McCalley, a Northern Arizona University student now serving as the non-voting student regent, will take her place as the voting student.
Former law student Matthew Meaker was the last UA student to serve on the board. His term expired last summer.