Student Involvement Division of Student Affairs

Undergraduate Representative to the Board of Trustees

Please note: the application for 2019-20 has closed.

Applications are accepted each spring for the positions of two nonvoting undergraduate student representatives to the Washington University Board of Trustees.

An undergraduate student representative to the Board of Trustees must be a full-time current sophomore, junior or senior, be in good academic standing without any judicial records, and able to make the time commitment necessary. In addition, it is important the student representative have knowledge of the undergraduate experience at Washington University, be articulate, be able to present a variety of opinions, have sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and hold the respect of peers, faculty, and of others in the community. The student representative should also be willing to maintain close communication with the undergraduate community.

Apply to be undergraduate rep to the Board of Trustees

About the Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees is made up of approximately 58 men and women from the corporate, professional, educational, governmental and volunteer sectors of the St. Louis community and major cities nationwide and abroad. In addition, Emeritus Trustees are invited to attend meetings and serve on committees of the Board.
Responsibilities of the Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees is legally responsible for the institution whose assets it holds in TRUST. Trustees must assure themselves that the institution is heading in the right direction and is well-managed. In short, they must fulfill their responsibilities, legal and moral, as TRUSTEES. The Trustees of Washington University:

  • Appoint the chancellor;
  • Review and approve or disapprove annual budgets;
  • Review and approve or disapprove major capital expenditures;
  • Make final decision on awards of tenure and degrees, and on new degree programs;
  • Oversee the management of the endowment;
  • Oversee and participate in development programs;
  • In addition, the Trustees take an interest in and are supportive of the university’s people and its programs.

Board members exercise a policy and oversight role in contrast to the implementation and operational role of the administration, staff and faculty. Board members try to concentrate on questions that look to the future implications of current policies and practices. Who will implement the policies and precisely how this will be done is a question that should be left to the institution’s chief administrators. Board members are interested and informed, but are careful to refrain from interfering in the management and operation of the university.

How the Board of Trustees carries out its responsibilities
The basic work of the Board takes place through the work of committees. Washington University has the following standing Trustee committees:

  • Executive
  • Audit*
  • Buildings and Grounds*
  • Compensation
  • Development
  • Educational Policy*
  • Global Engagement
  • Medical Finance*
  • University Finance*
  • Honorary Degree*
  • Nominating & Governance
  • Research-Graduate Affairs*
  • Undergraduate Experience*

*These are the committees past student representatives to the Board have most often attended.

Board Meetings
The Board meets quarterly in October, December, March and May. The Executive Committee (14 members) meets every month the Board does not meet, except for August.

Student representatives may, with the approval of the committee chair and the committee staff person, attend meetings of standing committees of the Board, excluding the Executive, Compensation and Nominating Committees.

History of student representatives on the Board of Trustees
The policy including student representatives was initiated for undergraduates in 1970 and for graduate students in 1993 and 1996. While the student representatives are not voting members of the Board, it is a distinct honor to be chosen as well as an opportunity to contribute to the work of the Board and to learn first-hand about the responsibilities of the chief policy-making body of the university.
Other representatives to the Board of Trustees
There are two faculty and two alumni representatives.
Responsibilities of the student representatives to the Board

  • Attend meetings of the Board.
  • Meet with chancellor and Student Life reporters after Board meetings.
  • Deliver an annual report to the Board in May.
  • When appropriate, express to the Board your own views on issues and, if possible, representation of the views of other students.
  • Maintain confidentiality.
  • Serve as a liaison to keep channels of communication open between the chancellor and students.

Undergraduate Representative Selection Committee

Dr. Lori S. White
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Chair

Anthony Azama
John M. Schael Director of Athletics

Tommy Elzinga
Undergraduate Experience Committee of the Board of Trustees, Student Representative

Grace Egbo
Student Union President, 2018-19

Anne Flaherty
Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs for Student Support and Wellness

Robyn Hadley
Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs & Dean of the Office of Scholar Programs

Joy Korley
Undergraduate Experience Committee of the Board of Trustees, Student Representative

Sam Messenger
Undergraduate Student Representative to the Board of Trustees

Derrick Ogola
Undergraduate Experience Committee of the Board of Trustees, Student Representative

Patricia Olynyk
Florence and Frank Bush Professor of Art

Gabriela Pantoja
Undergraduate Experience Committee of the Board of Trustees, Student Representative

Monica Sass
Undergraduate Student Representative to the Board of Trustees

James Schisler
Educational Policy Committee of the Board of Trustees, Student Representative

Mark Smith
Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs & Dean of Career Services

Rob Wild
Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

Please note: the application for 2019-20 has closed.