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Dear Fellow Graduate Students,
It is with great pleasure and honor that I, Jesus Valero, announce my re-election for President of the
Graduate Student Council for the academic year 2015-2016. I am currently a PhD student in the
Department of Public Administration studying nonprofit management, leadership, and collaborative
networks. After graduation, I plan to pursue a career in academia to train future students of public
administration and engage in cutting edge research that helps improve the way that government and
nonprofit organizations function in the 21st century.
As GSC President this past year, I envisioned to accomplish three things. First, I sought to strengthen
our internal structure to ensure that our Senate and other members of GSC were actively engaged.
Without a sound and stable internal structure, I felt that we would not be able to effectively carry out our
mission to serve the graduate student body. Under my leadership, we adopted comprehensive GSC
bylaws that spelled out the internal workings of the organization, including the establishment of a GSC
Standing Committee system that would maintain Senators plugged in to the efforts of the organization
and a process by which to present and adopt legislation, maintained consistent and structured meetings
of the Senate and Executive bodies, restructured the Executive Committee for more effective operation,
and provided all members of the Council with consistent updates on the efforts of the GSC President to
achieve the mission of GSC.
Second, I wanted to raise the profile of GSC on campus and beyond. I felt that if GSC was to be
effective at representing graduate students, then graduate students and other key stakeholders should
know about the existence of GSC. Under my leadership, we accomplished just that and more. I met on
a consistent basis with key UNT administrators, including Dr. Elizabeth With, VP of Student Affairs and
served on her Student Advisory Council, Dr. Neal Smatresk and served on his President’s Advisory
Council, and Dr. Mark Wardell, Dean of the Toulouse Graduate School. I also built relationships with
key elected officials and their offices, including State Representative Myra Crownover, who supported
the first ever, GSC-sponsored State Legislative Action Days. In addition, Representative Crownover
recognized our efforts in the House floor with House Resolution 395. Moreover, I am leading the effort
to establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between UNT GSC and NAGPS where UNT
GSC will host the NAGPS board meeting for the next three years and where UNT will become the
institutional home of NAGPS.
Lastly, I wanted to empower graduate students and GSC by collaborating with others across campus and
we made excellent strides towards this end. First and foremost, I led the effort of GSC to become an
independent student government, which resulted in a successful referendum with 82% of voters
supporting GSC. I also led the our effort to organize the first-ever State Legislative Action Days event,
where graduate students came to our State’s Capitol to advocate on the needs of graduate students. I
also worked diligently to identify and successfully appoint graduate students to participate in 24 external
committees, and three GSC members were elected to serve on the board of NAGPS. I also presented on
behalf of GSC and provided information and resources to various student organizations on campus,
including the Muslim Student Association, Hispanic Student Association, Public Administration Student
Association, and Black Student Union.
Now that GSC has been recognized as a student government at UNT, we are in a position to more
effectively represent the needs and interests of graduate students. We are no longer just a student
organization—we are a Student Government. As such, I strongly feel that I am in the best position to
lead and transition our organization into its new role when: 1) I have led the effort of GSC becoming
this new governing institution, 2) I was a key architect of our current and effective GSC structure, and 3)
I have the skills, knowledge and motivation needed to lead our new student government. My vision is to
continue putting GSC first and stay true to our mission of advocating, connecting, and empowering
graduate students at UNT.
If elected President of the Graduate Student Body at UNT, I plan to focus my efforts on three key areas.
First, one of the chief functions of a student government is to represent the needs and interests of its
constituency. As such, I plan to pursue effective representation at the department, college, university,
community, state and national levels by:
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Providing resources and support to graduate student associations and GSC Senators so that they
can be strong and effective advocates for graduate students within their graduate programs,
associations, and beyond
Ensuring that graduate students are represented in important university committees, and meeting
with university administrators and government relations staff on a regular basis
Discussing issues facing graduate students with elected officials at the local, state and national
levels by organizing state legislative action days on a semesterly basis and participating in
NAGPS’ legislative action days at our nation’s capitol
Second, a student government for graduate students should focus on proposing legislation that is
responsive to the needs of graduate students at UNT. I, therefore, plan to pursue policy initiatives that
will help improve the graduate student experience, including:
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Improved graduate student research labs and facilities so that graduate students are more
effective in their academic and research performance
Increased travel funding for both research and professional development opportunities
New parent benefits so that when graduate students are new parents, departments can
accommodate this life change without students facing repercussions
Lastly, I also plan to strengthen GSC’s community, reputation, and profile. By doing so, graduate
students and others will be more aware of our existence and turn to us for advice, guidance and support.
The initiatives I plan to pursue include:
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Continuing to collaborate with graduate student organizations, supporting events that benefit
graduate students, and leveraging on established relationships to advance the mission of GSC
Strengthening our working relationship with SGA by collaborating on issues of mutual interest
and establishing a mentoring program for undergraduate students that focuses on leadership
development and exposure to graduate education and research
Establishing a Council of GSC Presidents from each of the UNT System Institutions
I am honored that my effective leadership and accomplishments this past year and my vision for GSC’s
future have resulted in the endorsement of the following organizations for my re-election as President of
GSC: Graduate Students in English Association, Public Administration Student Association, College of
Education Doctoral Students Association, Korean Student Association, Public Administration Doctoral
Student Association, Muslim Student Association, and Sigma Lambda Beta (Theta Beta Chapter).
In addition, I have received the endorsement and support of the two immediate past GSC Presidents,
Kristan Ewin (2012-2013) and Anna Pechenina (2013-2014).
And today, I kindly seek your support! Vote Jesus Valero for GSC President!