Letter from the President

Liberal Arts Family,

       My name is Hank Dugie and I have the honor and privilege of serving as your Liberal Arts Council President for the 2011-2012 school year.

       To all of our incoming students, I would like to welcome you to the College of LiberalArts. It is by far the largest and most diverse at the University of Texas at Austin and you will come to find that means it also has the most resources and opportunities for your growth and development as a person. During your time here you will have experiences afforded to very few and learn the critical reasoning skills necessary for any profession. A liberal arts education provides you with wide spread knowledge. It teaches you how to think, learn, and see the big picture.

      To all of our returning students, you know the opportunities provided to you. I challenge you to take advantage of them. Get involved. Join one of our dozens of organizations.The amount you can learn outside of the classroom is phenomenal. What ever your interests are, the college has something for you.

      For a little background on what Liberal Arts Council is and does, we are a student organization that represents the interests of students in the College of Liberal Arts. We serve as a link between you and the college administration, faculty, and professional world. Through programs, lectures, and many other events, the Council works to build community within the college and to create a smaller college experience at a large university.

      If you ever have a question or suggestion for us, we are open and willing. For those of you interested in applying, the application for membership will be out on July 1st. For those of you interested in another liberal arts organization, we can help you find the onethat suits you best.

Excited for the year,

Hank Dugie, President of Liberal Arts Council

Exec Board

 

	President (Hank Dugie) (hankdugie@gmail.com) The President shall be the administrative head of the Council and preside over the council, executive board, and executive leadership meetings. He/she represents the Council for the function of the Senate of College Councils. Represents LAC to the college and university administration. He/she is also the chief spokesperson of the Council to other outside bodies.
	Vice President (Shakshi Kshatriya) (shakshi.kshatriya@gmail.com) The Vice President shall preside over the council, executive board, and executive leadership meetings in the absence of the President. He/she assists the President in the administration of his/her office, assumes the responsibilities of the Council ombudsperson, and oversees the new member process. The Vice President serves on the Representatives Committee of the Senate of College Councils and reports the activities of Senate to the Council.
	Financial Director (Landon Sparks) (dklsparks09@yahoo.com) The Financial Director disburses funds for Council activities and is the director of fundraising efforts. He/she maintains records of the Council’s financial activities and represents the Council at functions of the Senate of College Councils.
	Communication Director (Morgan Caridi) (morgan@morgancaridi.com) The Communication Director takes minutes of the Council and Executive Leadership meetings and maintains records of membership. He/she also supervises the publicity of Council events.
	Program Director (Jeremy Gatson) (jeremy.gatson@gmail.com) The Program Director facilitates all external events for the Council. He/she must insure that all logistical aspects of programming are completed.

Committee Chairs

	Alumni Relations (Richie Gill) (richie@glenrichard.com) Alumni Relations strives to connect Liberal Arts students with one of the most valuable resources available at UT, our alumnus. This is best accomplished through informal small gatherings that facilitate individual conversations, allowing students to learn what is most useful to them.
	College Ambassadors (Phil Wiseman) (wiseman.philip@gmail.com) Guided by our unwavering dedication to make Liberal Arts Council truly representative of the student body at-large in the College of Liberal Arts, we will strive towards inclusion of students by reaching out to student organizations. Student organizations play a key importance to the lives of many students in the college and serve as the best medium by which we can reach out to students in general. Additionally, as many of these organizations, and their members, are stakeholders in the college, giving them a “seat at the table” is exactly the best way to ensure accountability of the council, responsibility of administrators, and unity throughout the college through uniting many voices and opinions into one voice – the voice of the student body of the College of Liberal Arts.
	Campus and Community Focus (Cole Cable) (colecable@gmail.com) The mission of Campus and Community Focus Committee is to foster service minded individuals within the College of Liberal Arts. It will represent liberal arts students by providing volunteer opportunities and encouraging service oriented mindsets within the college.
	Departmental Representatives (Blake Meyer) (meyerbla@gmail.com) As the official voice of Liberal Arts Students, Liberal Arts Council has a duty to make sure all student voices are heard. The Departmental Representation Committee will fulfill that duty on an academic level, collecting input from students and all who are in contact with students in order to provide the best feedback possible to the College administration. By seeking out recommendations and concerns from students, advisers, and faculty in every department, we will help to fulfill the academic mission of each DCP.
	Faculty Affairs (Cassie Maneen) (c_maneen@yahoo.com) It is the mission of the Faculty Affairs committee to maintain an interactive and mutualistic relationship with faculty and staff through communication, appreciation, interdependence, and reliability. Our members seek to enhance the liberal arts experience by fostering a kinship with our academic professors and resources, as well by promoting a communal set of goals between both faculty and students.
	Newsletter Editor (Cheyenne Smith & Marisa Montemayor) (cheyennesmith09@yahoo.com & marisa.montemayor@yahoo.com) The Liberator aims to actively engage students beyond the classroom by providing coverage of COLA organizations and events, timely updates on college legislation, and exposure of student life.
	Policy (Andrew Wilson) (andrewwilson@utexas.edu) The Policy Committee is dedicated to effectively representing liberal arts students through writing legislation and engaging members of the College of Liberal Arts. We strive to ensure the Liberal Arts Council provides positive representation and adheres to its mission of enhancing the academic lives of liberal arts students.
	Recognition and Awards (Christine Thorne-Thomsen) (cftt@thorne-thomsen.com) Recognition and Awards Committee is responsible for selecting and awarding the LAC study abroad scholarship, and the committee is charged to recognize outstanding students, faculty members, and advisors for their achievements in the College of Liberal Arts.
	Student Affairs (Katie Massey) (kmassey023@yahoo.com) The Student Affairs Committee strives to serve the College of Liberal Arts by encouraging student involvement within the college as well as providing resources that promote professional development. Our committee puts a strong emphasis on integrating first-year students into the University through mentoring and community building. Through our efforts, we hope to cultivate well-rounded students to promote success beyond the Forty Acres.
	Traditions (Jacob Troublefield & TJ Harris) (troublefield.jacob@gmail.com & tjharris@mail.utexas.edu) In the upcoming school year, the Traditions Committee will strive to both reinvent itself and increase its involvement within the council through a number of means. Primarily, Traditions will serve the council by increasing a sense of camaraderie between council members, thus, helping in the council’s efficiency. This camaraderie will stem from more social events and an efficient family system. Secondly, this committee will actively archive and document the numerous events held by the other committees, as well as any event involve.   2010-2011 Leadership Team  President: Carl Thorne-Thomsen Vice-President: Shelby Carvalho  Financial Director: Miles Gilmour/ Ajay Patel Communication Director: Lucy Alejos Programs Director: Hank Dugie   Academic Affairs: Emily Pirraglia Campus & Community Focus: Hon Lam Departmental Representation: Samreen Khan Student Affairs: Monica Gully  Traditions: Ajay Patel/ Jared Hopper