Katarina Kierkegaard, originally from a small town in Pennsylvania, is a Political Science major with minors in Psychology and Legal Studies. Katarina is President of JCU’s all-female Student Government (SG). They are also a Resident Assistant (RA) and previously served as their representative in SG Senate.
Why did you choose Political Science as your major?
I’ve always had an interest in studying politics. Even as a child, I was curious about what was happening in the world, especially when it came to activism.
I come from a small town, and unfortunately, I saw that many people didn’t have access to diverse educational opportunities. It was frustrating to hear some of the views they held, which were often prejudiced or biased. They didn’t always recognize the deeper systemic issues behind the problems they were discussing. I think I was really invigorated by the desire to see change and less injustice in the world.
For me, studying political science is not just about how governments work, but also how they affect the people under them.
Why did you decide to join the JCU Student Government?
I joined the Student Government Senate last year as a Resident Assistant Representative. In this role, I conducted surveys and analyzed statistics, then met with the University administration to discuss how we could better advocate for RAs, provide additional benefits, and improve our training. I really enjoy advocacy, so I had a great time in this role.
Last semester, I was offered the position of president. I felt excited to see myself in that role and to continue the work that I was doing in the SG Senate on a larger scale, to advocate for the students, to be the change, to talk to the staff, administration, and faculty, and bridge the gaps.
I care a lot about this University and the people here, including staff, faculty, and the students. It's nice to be able to engage with people, and not just say things, but to be able to do them.
Caring for people and being kind is so valuable and important in our world— in university and outside, too. Being away from home, I've learned how important it is to build your community.
How do you feel being the president of an all-female Student Government?
All the members are amazing. We're all very supportive of each other. It's such a positive, safe environment to be in. We all understand what it means to be a woman in academia, where a majority of what we study has been covered by male authors and male researchers.
Our Student Government this year brings so much compassion, understanding, and ambition to the University and to the student body. I really adore my cabinet. They do their work; they're timely, intelligent, and great problem solvers. I don't have enough words to describe them.
What projects are you working on right now?
We’re gathering ideas from the cultural clubs about having more diverse meals at Tiber Cafe. I know we already have a great selection in the buffet, but I often hear from students that they would like to have more options. At JCU, we have students from all over the world; it would be nice to see different cultures represented through the food. We are collecting ideas to bring to the chef at Tiber.
In addition, I’m working with the Student Government on a sustainability initiative at the Tiber Cafe. We want to introduce a punch card system to encourage students to use reusable cups. I can’t wait to launch this initiative!
