Name: Carson Vollmer
Year in School: 5th year
Major/Minor: Philosophy

1. What position are you running for?

ASI President

2. Why did you choose this position?

I chose to run for ASI President because I want to make a difference in students’ lives by making changes at both the campus-wide and system-wide levels. This position will allow me to engage in conversations with not only students, but also staff, faculty, and others who I will work with to initiate change and better the lives of students. Next semester will be unique as we transition back to campus and will be faced with more challenges. I want to work to help ease this transition and make it as seamless as possible for students.

3. What made you interested in student government?

I was initially interested in student government when I found out how involved they were on campus and how they were able to make real changes on both the campus-wide and system-wide levels as well. Being in ASI for 2 years now, my interest has only grown and the potential to make real differences has greatly expanded. I am passionate about advocating and representing those who need it and I will do my best to continue doing this.

4. What qualifications or experience do you bring to the position?

During my time at CSUB, I have held several different leadership roles and been a part of several clubs and organizations. These experiences have allowed me to grow as a leader and develop skills that allow me to become a more efficient and effective leader. These experiences will also allow me to be a better advocate for students and represent their interests and needs.

5. What do you hope to contribute to ASI if elected?

If elected, I hope to make a difference in the lives of students on campus. I want to make sure students have the resources and opportunities they need to succeed and progress toward
their career goals. I will actively advocate and work hard to make sure we have diverse and inclusive opportunities for all, and that students’ college experiences go as smoothly as possible. I want to be the voice for students and I hope they know that I will always be there for them.

Name: Ramneet Dhillon
Year in School: Sophomore
Major/Minor: Biology Major

1. What position are you running for?

I am running for Vice President of Campus Life.

2. Why did you choose this position?

I chose to run for VP of campus life because I want to be able to interact with students on a competent level. Students’ perspectives and voices should be given priority. I want to give students a voice on what events they want to see happen on campus. School is constantly causing students to stress. I want to be able to help organize events on campus to help students destress. Overall, I want to help make the campus a comfortable environment for students where they are able to express their voices.

3. What made you interested in student government?

I became interested in student government during my first semester of sophomore year when I realized how students may be affected by transitioning into in-person classes. I became aware that this was a stressful transition for most students. In which I wanted to help make a change and give students a voice. I also wanted to make the CSUB community aware of how students were truly struggling with this transition. From there I became interested in how I could truly help students and help find solutions for their concerns. I also started coming up with ideas on how to help students destress and one of the best ways is by having fun events on campus.

4. What qualifications or experience do you bring to the position?

I have had experience talking to students about their concerns and what they want to see on campus since my first year here at CSUB. Yes, I started off virtually but through zoom, I was able to listen to students’ opinions. I have also been able to have engagements on campus by being in the Helen Hawks Honors Program, Vice President of the Presoma club and currently being VP of Campus Life.

5. What do you hope to contribute to ASI if elected?

I hope to bring rise to students’ voices along with helping plan fun stress-free events. I want to be able to provide a comfortable environment where students are able to distress and focus on themselves.

Name: Julissa Chavana
Year in School: 2nd year
Major/Minor: Biochemistry, minor in Mathematics

1. What position are you running for?

I am running for the position of Vice President of Finance.

2. Why did you choose this position?

I chose to run for this position because I felt that I could make a significant beneficial change to our finances. I want to alleviate the financial burden for students as well as provide more opportunities for students whether it be academically or socially.

3. What made you interested in student government?

I became interested in student government because of the opportunity it provides to make connections with people who are similarly motivated to serve others. Being a part of the student government would also give me the chance to make a change which is something I have always been very passionate about. I believe everyone has a voice and that voice needs to be heard.

4. What qualifications or experience do you bring to the position?

Outside of my studies, I devote time to my photography business. I started my business when I was 14 and have been able to successfully run it for the past 5 years. With this experience, I find that I can contribute the knowledge I have accumulated over the years through doing business with the public. This includes monetary distribution, making financial decisions as well as learning the legality of finances.

5. What do you hope to contribute to ASI if elected?

As we transition back to an in-person college experience, I hope to be able to contribute to moving forward from this chapter of history by organizing more funding for our clubs and organizations as well as more student scholarships. I also hope to be the best student leader I can be who students can look up to and approach with any concerns. I will also make sure to always have the students’ best interest in mind in any financial decision that needs to be made.

Name: Erick Plata Torres
Year in School: Senior
Major/Minor: Sociology with a concentration in Human Services

1. What position are you running for?

Vice President of Finance.

2. Why did you choose this position?

My intention for this position is to run a finance committee diligently and effectively to increase the amount of student engagement on our beautiful campus. The COVID-19 Pandemic is still a burden for many students, either in physical or mental health.

3. What made you interested in student government?

I have witnessed how some students do not engage with on-campus departments, extracurriculars, and/or sports. While some students may be timid or not confident enough to reach out and get involved, other students do not see a clear indicator from their student government calling on them to get involved.

4. What qualifications or experience do you bring to the position?

I commit to following and investing time to fulfill all my VP of Finance duties and responsibilities. I understand that 10 hours a week might not seem like very many hours, but through my experience of presently serving as the ASI Director of Transfer Students and ASI Finance Committee Member, I can attest to the fact that student leaders might sometimes need to dedicate more hours than what the leadership position stipulates. Therefore, I commit to serving CSUB Runners to the best of my capacity and knowledge with the objectives of providing supportive resources to students and becoming a vigorous, resilient advocate.

5. What do you hope to contribute to ASI if elected?

My number one priority, if confirmed as VP of Finance, would be to think of and implement new methods for students to feel comfortable and motivated to join in on-campus activities. I would like to see more students on campus interacting and building professional networks through their involvement in extracurriculars.

Name: Daniel Albiar Jr
Year in School: 2nd year
Major: Business Administration –Finance

1. What position are you running for?

I am running for ASI Vice President of Finance

2. Why did you choose this position?

I chose this position because I feel that my background in finance and leadership, coupled with my ambitions to improve how ASI spends its budget, can help the students get through the everyday burdens that they may face as students.

3. What made you interested in student government?

I became interested in student government when I heard about the great steps that our student leaders were taking here on campus through student advocacy and recognition. From this point, I did some research on what ASI was and knew that their desire to progress the CSUB student experience aligned precisely with my goals. I then applied for the position of Director of ASI Outreach from which I was accepted into this prestigious role!

4. What qualifications or experience do you bring to the position?

I bring a large array of experience to the position of VP of Finance. I am the President and Founder of the Business Experience Association which works to increase student membership and participation in clubs throughout all of the CSUB, reaching nearly 500 students thus far. Additionally, I work at a finance firm in downtown Bakersfield that reviews and provides millions of dollars in loans to small businesses all around Kern County.

5. What do you hope to contribute to ASI if elected?

If elected, I would contribute my expertise in strategic allocations of the CSUB budget to make every cent count. This would include higher investments in campus infrastructure, better marketing of what ASI is, lobbying for the removal of restrictive campus policies and strengthening the overall student experience.