According to Union of Students of the University of Alaska Anchorage (USUAA) President Luis Sanchez-Ulloa Jr., small changes make the biggest impact when it comes to enacting visible change.

Sanchez-Ulloa Jr, a chemistry major with aspirations of pursuing a medical career, served as a USUAA senator and sergeant at arms for the 2023-24 academic year before setting his sights on the presidency. 

“My first year at UAA, I wasn’t even aware that we had a student government,” said Sanchez-Ulloa Jr. “It wasn’t until someone brought it up to me that I knew we had one, and I thought this would be a great opportunity.”

Initially, Sanchez-Ulloa Jr. said he was excited to jump in and wanted to run for the open leadership positions. However, he realized he needed time to learn about USUAA's organization, structure, policy and procedures. He took a smaller step to gain experience in the student government space and focused on connecting to the student body, gaining insight into what common issues UAA students brought up most frequently.

“One of the issues I saw immediately was needing more seating or areas to study in the places like on the bridges,” Sanchez-Ulloa Jr. said. “I was also involved in the Activities Committee, which puts on student events around campus like ‘Little Black Dress’ and helped staff the coffee stations available every Wednesday morning. I helped do a lot of things like that to help increase awareness [of USUAA], telling people who we are and what we do.”

Sanchez-Ulloa Jr. is ready for the semester to begin. He will start working on issues and events and raising awareness of USUAA. He said the student government organization has struggled post-pandemic to remain visible within the campus community. He hopes that he can change that this year and encourage more students to join. 

Currently, he has a stack of sticky notes on his desk with suggestions for improvements around campus left over from his predecessors. He has been looking through them to see what issues stick out more prominently and need attention first. He said suggestions range from better on-campus food options and better signage across campus to easier access to student parking to requests for free feminine products in the women’s restrooms and everything in between. 

During his campaign for USUAA president, Sanchez-Ulloa Jr. and his running mate for the vice president position, Eisa Chang, focused on the issues of parking, accessibility and engagement — specifically engagement — to not only pique student interest but also incentivize them to participate in the student government process. 

“Whenever a student brings up a suggestion we not only provide recognition but a USUAA endorsement,” said Sanchez-Ulloa Jr. “For example, someone wanted to reinstall a ping pong table on campus and add some LED lighting. I would like to recognize those suggestions by presenting the student with a badge or something small and if possible, add a placard that notes who made the suggestion — just to raise more awareness.”

Sanchez-Ulloa Jr. hopes these small visible gestures of recognition across campus will motivate other students to raise their voices on issues big and small to effect positive change for students.

With the semester about to kick off, Sanchez-Ulloa Jr. hopes to draw more students in and encourage them to apply for open positions within USUAA. He said recruiting students to join USUAA is one of the biggest challenges he and his vice president are facing right now. 

“There are so many things around campus that can be improved that students don’t realize — I think people just get stuck in the rhythm of the day-to-day,” Sanchez-Ulloa Jr. said. “But USUAA is important because we can help make change and student government provides accessible change for students.”