With the launch of the Student Leadership Group (SLG), key officers of student business organizations at Florida International University (FIU) have a way to give input, interact with alumni and develop leadership skills.
Presidents and vice presidents from the eight student organizations in FIU’s College of Business Administration gathered for SLG’s first meeting in late September 2010, to hear how this new group will increase collegiality among business students, alumni, faculty and staff.
“Rather than getting information via a top-down approach, students realize that the SLG gives them the opportunity to present ideas and influence decisions, including funding for conference attendance,” said SLG advisor Yanyn San Luis (BA ’09). “Plus, there will be more interaction with alumni, with the goal for these students to someday become alumni leaders.”
The former Business Student Council has been folded into SLG, to align all business student organization into one leadership group.
Representatives from each student business organization were part of the meeting:
- Alpha Kappa Psi (AKPSI)
- ALPFA
- Beta Alpha Psi
- Future Business Leaders – Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA-PBL)
- Project Management Association
- Real Estate Student Association (RESA)
- American Marketing Association (AMA)
- Finance and Management Association (FMA)
SLG officers are Jeffrey Zelaya, president; Jason Ford, vice president; and Juan Zambrano, public relations director.
Annabelle Rojas (MBA ’98, BBA ’87), assistant dean, Department of Advancement, Alumni, and Corporate Relations, said her entire team is excited about the opportunities the SLG presents.
“As a former FIU student, I know engagement with the university benefits students by giving them external exposure,” she said. “And it benefits the college by allowing us to show off our students to alumni, donors and corporate partners.”
Plans include key people interaction.
SLG meetings will be held twice a semester. Plans include presentations by alumni about their industry, college deans participating in discussions with SLG members and other events.
San Luis said each meeting allows student leaders to interact with one another.
“Each organization will be stronger as a result of the SLG.” she said.
