Hi friends! My name is Mia Ritter, my pronouns are she, her, and hers, and I am a candidate running for the President position! I’m from Albuquerque, New Mexico and I’m a third-year College of Agricultural Sciences student studying Animal Sciences with a minor in Spanish and Chemistry. I’m focused on studying sustainability, agriculture, and health care policy and law within Native Reservations. I’m a Native American/Indigenous woman within the Tohono O’odham/Papago Nation of Southern Arizona Tribes. I have been a part of the Associated Students of Colorado State University (ASCSU) Student Government for three years upholding multiple positions: Senator for the Native American Cultural Center (NACC), Chair for the Diversity & Inclusion Caucus, and Chair for the Budgetary Affairs Committee within the Legislative Branch. 

I have also worked within the Housing & Dining facilities as an Inclusive Community Assistant (ICA) for two years serving as a Student Diversity Program Services (SDPS) liaison of the Native American Cultural Center (NACC), Black African American Cultural Center (B/AACC), Asian Pacific American Cultural Center (APACC), El Centro, Pride Resource Center (PRC), Student Disability Center (SDC), and Women and Gender Advocacy Center (WGAC) for First-Year, Transfer, Upper Class, International, Honors, and Engineering students. I have been trained in Student Conflict Resolution for two years focused on mediation, problem-solving, and resolution. I am Safe Zone trained and tangibly work in reducing transphobia, homophobia, and cisheterosexism. I strongly advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice and allyship to spread awareness of Safe Zone trainings to build an inclusive campus community!

My goals I have and always will strive for within ASCSU is focusing on diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice within and outside of our organization, accountability of myself and my team I work with, and being transparent of all the work I do with any student I get the opportunity to communicate with. If I’m elected as your next President, these are qualities I will hold myself to the highest standard in our organization to best serve you and what our student body ultimately needs. I want to make our community more accessible, inclusive, and knowledgable of our student politics. I am so stoked to continue Sammy and I’s rewarding hard work as a team and representing our student body!

My name is Sammy Trout, I use the He/Him/His pronouns and was born and raised in Aurora, Colorado. I am a 4th year student here at CSU with a major in Sociology with a Criminal Justice Concentration and a minor in Political Science. I have been in ASCSU for 2 years, currently serving as the senior Senator for the College of Liberal Arts as well as Chair of the University Affairs Committee within the Senate, which reviews legislation that will have a direct impact on the students we serve. I also serve on multiple student advocacy and oversight boards on campus including the Liberal Arts Dean Leadership Council, Pride Leadership Council, Legislative Strategy Advisory Board, and the Student Fee Review Board. Outside of ASCSU I also work at Off-Campus Life as a Program Assistant as well as a Night Operations Coordinator within RamRide. 

My goals within the ASCSU Senate have always been focused on DEI advocacy, Community Outreach, and Accountability and that work will continue if I am elected to be your next Vice-President. In the Senate, I have been a consistent voice in holding folks accountable and ensuring that ASCSU is an accessible space for all constituents and members alike. I am excited to continue the rewarding work of representing the student body!

Ava Ayala 

Hello all! My name is Ava Ayala. I’m currently a zoology major and I am a Senator for the College of Natural Science here at CSU. I have been involved in student government on and off the CSU campus for about 5 years and during that time I have seen good and bad administrations and I believe with that knowledge I can help ASCSU improve the community in ASCSU and outside on CSUs campus. In my experience off campus, I held a position called Internal Relations Manager with that position I worked on making sure that any conflicts within student government were handled in a responsible and respectful manner which needs to be implemented in ASCSU. Inside of ASCSU I have accomplished many things. I am an author on the bill that turned the Diversity and Inclusive Caucus into the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Affairs committee which is a major step in putting CSUs statements of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into action. Now just a little bit of what I do at the school I serve as a member of Student Fee Review Board (SFRB) with this position I have learned a lot about how student fees are increased and how important student boards are when it comes to student needs I am also an active member of my College Council handling the tech fees of the College of Natural Sciences. Many of ASCSU problems are internal and they, in my opinion, aren’t being handled correctly or responsibly by current leadership in all positions and seeing it firsthand this year I have many thoughts and plans to help foster a better environment through communication, community, and change. 

Hayden Taylor 

I have lived in Colorado for my whole life. I grew up in Littleton, and wanted to stay in Colorado for college. In my free time I enjoy skiing, hiking, backpacking, and playing board games. I am a first year student studying political science. I have been active in the student government since the beginning of my time at CSU. I am running for Speaker to improve the atmosphere of ASCSU. In my time in the Senate I have introduced legislation to improve visibility of ASCSU with the student body, which I would like to continue in a position of leadership. I truly believe in our organization’s goal of serving the students of CSU, and feel that I can bring leadership that can make the Senate even more effective.