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Texas Tech's students' voices will now be heard again with the appointment of a new student regent.
Kelli Stumbo officially was named student regent on May 9, beating out an assortment of undergraduate, graduate and law students who also applied. She is the third student regent on Tech's Board of Regents, with the first having been appointed since 2006.
Stumbo, a law student from Flower Mound, said it has been a dream of hers to become a student regent for Tech.
She said she has many reasons for wanting this position, including her love for Tech and her desire to represent both Tech's on-campus and off-campus students. Regardless of their affiliation to the university, she is excited about representing all students.
"I've been here going on eight years and absolutely love Texas Tech University for everything that it represents both academically - but also all of the opportunities (it provides)," Stumbo said. "It allows students to get involved and to better students."
Her main goal as student regent is to be a voice for the students, which includes ensuring all students' voices are recognized. She will be careful, however, not to make assumptions about what they need, but will make efforts to discover those needs.
"I will go to great lengths to make sure that the students' voices are heard," Stumbo said, "as well as always consider it with every decision that we make."
Stumbo was a member of the Student Government Association for four years, as an undergraduate majoring in public relations, and served as SGA president. She is the first student regent to have been president of the SGA, which gives her experience that the past two student regents did not have.
"I think being in SGA and now being able to serve as regent was great preparation," she said. "I learned how the full system works."
She does not have a personal agenda to implement any major changes so far because she said she cannot assume what students need and she plans to be dedicated enough to pinpoint the general consistency of those needs and then implement necessary changes.
"My ultimate goal is - I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Texas Tech, whether it be in the classroom or in student organizations," Stumbo said, "but I really feel Texas Tech is my home and feel that it's my duty, more or less, to make sure that other students have that opportunity and that experience and (to see) how can we provide that for them."
As the Chairman of the Board of Regents, F. Scott Dueser said he is excited to work with Stumbo and has known her for about seven years through her work with SGA.
"Obviously she's done very well academically and certainly understands student life," he said. "She will mesh very well with the board."
Dueser said Stumbo will bring a unique perspective to the board, not only because she is a student, but also due to her past work as SGA president.
He said Stumbo's duties will include keeping up with business the board deals with on a daily basis, but with focus on student life. The advantage of having a student regent is that she looks at issues from a student perspective.
"I couldn't be more pleased," Dueser said. "We look forward to working with her."
Stumbo was appointed to the position of student regent after a rigorous interview process with the Student Government Association, the chancellor's office, and the Texas governor's appointment office.
Governor Rick Perry made the ultimate decision after reviewing all of the information gathered from the entire application process.
"Kelli has excelled both academically and professionally," said Krista Piferrer, spokesperson for Perry's office. "She is an ambitious young leader who will bring a wealth of good ideas and innovations to the board."
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