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Sierra was elected the United Student Housing Association’s President back in May of 2016. Her

position really began in late July early August where she hit the ground running. At that time,

only the Secretary, the National Communications Coordinator, and the President roles were

filled. This left open the Social Recognition Committee Chair, the Programming Committee

Chair, and the Vice President positions. Sierra helped pick up the slack of all the empty roles

until every position was covered. The Social Recognition Committee Chair and the Vice

President were not covered until September. With that, Sierra delegated the Programming

Committee over to the Secretary until the Vice President was elected. Sierra also delegated the

Social Recognition Committee over to the National Communications Coordinator until a person

was selected as well. Sierra helped plan the programs and was active in preparing for them both

while the position was unfilled and even afterwards.

(This picture to the left is of

the executive board at the

beginning of the semester a

couple minutes prior to

letting in the line outside of

the Jim Wand event). Sierra

gracefully embraced the first

week back on her home

institution. She helped create

door decorations for all of the

Residence Hall Directors and

also for all of the United

Student Housing

Association’s (USHA’s)

Representatives. She helped

create the USHA bulletin

board for the fall semester

and helped decorate the

USHA office door. Sierra

also helped tackle refrigerator

rentals as part of a fundraiser

for USHA’s budget. She

accepted money, helped

people put the refrigerators

onto trolleys, and made sure

every refrigerator was

accounted for. To further that, Sierra went on stage twice prior to both Jim Wand shows. Jim

Wand is a hypnotist who has been coming to the University of Central Missouri (UCM) for over

20 years. She announced Jim Wand onto the stage along with informing the attendees what

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USHA does. Sierra also oversaw the updates of a tri-fold poster and handouts that were going to

be used at the involvement fair. This was a lot to take on while still learning all the

responsibilities of the President all within the first week.

Sierra’s goals for the United Student

Housing Association are: run meetings well,

have fun with executive board members

while accomplishing necessary tasks, and

improve UCM Housing where she can based

off of what the residents want. On the local

level, Sierra has achieved her first goal after

having a few bumpy meetings. She is more

confident and comfortable in meetings,

which really shines through in her role.

Sierra accomplished her second goal and

continues to have fun while working hard

with each member. (The picture on the right

is from an executive board meeting where the

bulletin board was designed along with

prepping items for the involvement fair).

Lastly, Sierra has represented the residents’

wants in an effective manner. The biggest

concern dealt with this year was how much

the fine should be for window stops in the

residence halls. Sierra led the discussion and

voting procedures in an impeccable manner

to do so to ensure that the fine was a

reasonable amount that the residents would

be okay with.

Sierra also has goals for the Midwest Affiliate Association of College and University Residence

Halls (MACURH) along with the National Association of College and University Residence

Halls (NACURH). For MACURH, Sierra wanted to have a successful delegation for the

Regional Leadership Conference. This was a success because the delegates who attended learned

a lot and competed in every category available in a positive manner. The delegates also presented

eight programs altogether while at the conference. They also had a blast and brought back a lot

of great ideas and resources to UCM. Sierra ensured that everything was running smoothly when

the National Communications Coordinator could not. Sierra’s goals for NACURH is to also have

a successful delegation. Even though the delegation to bring to NACURH has not been selected

yet, Sierra will ensure the delegation will have a blast and represent UCM Housing in a positive

light.

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Sierra ran every meeting in the fall semester with pride.

While at first Sierra was nervous, she overcame that fear

and connected with each person there. Sierra helped

create a fun and welcoming environment-which led to

the executive board getting a Programming Committee

Chair in late October. At semester's end, the Secretary

and the Programming Committee Chair resigned from

their positions due to new adventures. Both positions

were quickly filled and the USHA executive board is

starting the spring semester off by having a full team.

(This picture to the right is of the United Student

Housing Association’s Advisor, Secretary, and then

Sierra for Fall of 2016). Sierra has even overseen the

changes done a hall council constitution that is then

being brought forth to the executive members.

Sierra always leads executive board meetings in a confident manner. She ensures that everyone

stays on topic along with covering imperative tasks. Sierra meets with the advisor to ensure she

knows everything that needs to be brought up. Sierra also attends presidents when they occur to

carry back and forth information and help gain ideas of how to become better within her role.

She also discusses what will be talked about by each executive member prior to each general

body meeting. Sierra always prepares for meetings during her office hours. She writes down all

talking points for every position and checks it over prior to coming over to the meeting.

Sierra attended Midwest Affiliate of College and University

Residence Halls (MACURH) Regional Leadership

Conference this past November. At this conference, Sierra

attended both joint and President boardrooms. She made

connections with other Presidents she normally sees in chats

along with others. (The picture to the right is of the

National Communications Coordinator and Sierra heading

up to the conference).

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Sierra also helped present the Program of the Year bid with her National Communications

Coordinator, Anastasia Chaky. The Program of the Year bid was over the Cancer Awareness

Day UCM had last year. Sierra helped not only write the bid, but also design the bid design. She

ensured that the bid was checked over through the Writing Center on campus in order to have the

best possible bid. Sierra has a fear of public speaking, but definitely overcame that by presenting

the bid using a Prezi in the National Residence Hall Honorary Representative’s boardroom. She

worked hard all throughout the bid process-even when she found out that the timeline of the

event did not fit the timeline of the bid.

Sierra went on to also present a program

at the Regional Leadership Conference

along with her co-presenter Nyemah

Etienne. The program was, “We are

MACURH”. The point of this program

was to create unity within MACURH

while supporting what makes every

single person unique. Sierra had fun

presenting the program to people in

other institutions and further the

education in the region. (The picture to

the right is of four members of the

delegation-including Sierra herself).

Sierra has been an active member of the

Moo Crew. With that she attends meetings

as needed along with writing bids for

people who deserve to be written about

and comes up with legislation. She also is

the person to take minutes during the Moo

Crew meetings as well to ensure

everything discussed is remembered.

Sierra also played a huge role in ensuring

that the clothespins, display, and buttons

were ready to take to the Regional

Leadership Conference. Sierra will be

helping the Moo Crew write the Ultimate

Moo Crew Guidebook that will be carried

on for the next Moo Crew. (The picture to

the left is of Sierra and the traveling Molly

the Moo Cow).

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Because Sierra is the USHA President, she also serves on the Housing Leadership Committee.

The Housing Leadership Committee is made of the USHA and National Residence Hall

Honorary Advisor, 3 Residence Hall Directors, the National Residence Hall Honorary President,

and the USHA President. With that, she gives an undergraduate perspective to the committee's

goals. The Housing Leadership Committee plans two different retreats for the hall council

executive board members. This allows the hall council executive boards to become more

comfortable with their positions and learn how to become a better leader. She also participates in

doing special recognition for the Residence Hall Directors for all of their hard work.

Sierra has helped out with various

programs. She has helped paint spirit

windows for homecoming, paint bras

for the Big Pink Bra Competition,

participate on the Big Pink Volleyball

team, help stuff boxes full of items

for Operation Christmas Child,

prepare for the Mules and Jennies

Ball, Falloween, and carry the USHA

banner in the homecoming parade.

(The picture to the right is of four

members of the executive board for

the spring 2016 semester, including

Sierra, holding up the official USHA

banner in the homecoming parade).

Overall, Sierra is undeniably an

amazing President. She works hard to

ensure both general body and

executive board meetings run

smoothly. She also ensures USHA is

represented to the best of their ability at all university functions.

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Background: (all pages) Retrieved 16 January 2017, MS Office.

UCM Logo: (Pgs. 7 and 9) Retrieved 17 January 2017, UCM Website.